Neuromuscular Study to Assess Foot Intrinsic Muscles

National Taiwan University Hospital45 enrolled

Overview

The purposes of these studies are to investigate: Differences in abductor hallucis muscles'EMG activities during different postural tasks between individuals with normal foot alignment and functional flat foot. Differences in abductor hallucis muscles'H-reflex amplitudes between individuals with normal foot alignment and functional flat foot. Changes in abductor hallucis muscles'EMG activities during different postural tasks after a 3-week short foot exercises training regimen in individuals with functional flat foot. Changes in abductor hallucis muscles'H-reflex amplitudes after a 3-week short foot exercises training regimen in individuals with functional flat foot. hypotheses: Peak-to-peak amplitudes and ratios of abductor hallucis muscles and tibialis anterior muscles during different postural tasks were significantly lower in individual with functional flat foot when compared to those with normal foot alignments. H-reflex amplitudes of abductor hallucis muscles were significantly lower in individual with functional flat foot when compared to those with normal foot alignments. Changes of peak-to-peak amplitudes and ratios of abductor hallucis muscles and tibialis anterior muscles during different postural tasks were significantly different in individuals with functional flat foot after a 3-week short foot exercise training regimen. Changes of H-reflex amplitudes of abductor hallucis muscles were significantly different in individuals with functional flat foot after a 3-week short foot exercise training regimen

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Flexible Flatfoot

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 45 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

: Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 20 and 45 years * No ankle injury within the previous 6 months * No diagnosed lower extremity injuries * No ankle pain at the time of the study * Foot posture index score: 0 to +5 for the normal foot (NF) group; +6 to +12 for the functional flat foot (FFF) group * Navicular drop: 5-9 mm for the NF group; \> 10 mm for the FFF group Exclusion Criteria: * Foot posture index score: \<0 * Navicular drop\< 5 mm * Leg length discrepancy \> 1.5 cm * Diagnosed severe scoliosis * Neurological injuries over lower extremities

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Muscle activities: EMGs (mV)

EMGs (mV) in each posture

Time frame: Baseline

Muscle activities: H-reflexes (mV)

H-reflexes (mV) in each posture

Time frame: Baseline

Muscle activities change will being assessed: EMGs (mV)

EMGs (mV) in each posture

Time frame: Baseline. week 3

Muscle activities change will being assessed: H-reflexes (mV)