J Korean Foot Ankle Soc.  2010 Dec;14(2):177-181.

The Effect of Medial Arch Support for Flexible Flat Foot of Children

• Song HR
• Kim HJ
• Yoon YC

Abstract

PURPOSE
The author evaluated the clinical and radiological results after wearing the medial arch supports in children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
103 patients who had symptomatic flat feet were evaluated from march, 2002 to may 2009. All patients wore the medial arch supports according to the symptoms. We measured parameters at weight-bearing radiographs before and after medial arch support were worn. We also evaluated the clinical scores using the AOFAS score.
RESULTS
Mean age of patients was 97 months (11-204 months), all foot of patients involved bilaterally. Mean talo-first metatarsal angle of right foot was 17.7+/-9.4 and left foot was 19.96+/-9.5 degrees at AP radiograph in pre-wearing state. Mean calcaneal pitch angle of right foot was 12.0+/-5.3 and left foot was 11.9+/-5.8 degrees at lateral radiograph in pre-wearing state. Mean talo-first metatarsal angle of right foot was 14.4+/-8.05 and left foot was 13.1+/-8.77 degrees at AP radiograph in post-wearing state. Mean calcaneal pitch angle of right foot was 16.4+/-5.75 left foot was 16.5+/-5.6 degrees at lateral radiograph in post-wearing state. The radiographic angles between pre-wearing and post-wearing state were statistically significant (p<0.05). Mean pre-wearing AOFAS hindfoot score was 66.7+/-9.25, midfoot score was 60.0+/-9.34 forefoot score was 57.1+/-11.8. Mean post-wearing AOFAS hindfoot score was 73.2+/-9.73, midfoot score was 68.1+/-10.1, forefoot score was 67.2+/-11.4. The forefoot score was highest improving scores among the AOFAS scores.
CONCLUSION
From our study, we concluded that medial arch support was effective for symptomatic flat feet of children in radiological and clinical results from our study.

Keyword

Flexible flat foot; Medial arch supports

MeSH Terms

Child
Flatfoot
Foot
Humans
Metatarsal Bones
Weight-Bearing