Ann Rehabil Med.  2015 Dec;39(6):905-913. 10.5535/arm.2015.39.6.905.

Effect of Custom-Molded Foot Orthoses on Foot Pain and Balance in Children With Symptomatic Flexible Flat Feet

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea. I9534@paik.ac.kr
  • 2Institute of Sports Rehabilitation, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of custom-molded foot orthoses on foot pain and balance in children with symptomatic flexible flat foot 1 month and 3 months after fitting foot orthosis. METHOD: A total of 24 children over 6 years old with flexible flat feet and foot pain for at least 6 months were recruited for this study. Their resting calcaneal stance position and calcaneal pitch angle were measured. Individual custom-molded rigid foot orthoses were prescribed using inverted orthotic technique to control foot overpronation. Pain questionnaire was used to obtain pain sites, degree, and frequency. Balancing ability was determined using computerized posturography. These evaluations were performed prior to custom-molded foot orthoses, 1 month, and 3 months after fitting foot orthoses. RESULT: Of 24 children with symptomatic flexible flat feet recruited for this study, 20 completed the study. Significant (p<0.001) improvements in pain degree and frequency were noted after 1 and 3 months of custom-molded foot orthoses. In addition, significant (p<0.05) improvement in balancing ability was found after 3 months of custom-molded foot orthoses.
CONCLUSION
Short-term use of custom-molded foot orthoses significantly improved foot pain and balancing ability in children with symptomatic flexible flat foot.

Keyword

Flatfoot; Foot orthoses; Pediatrics; Musculoskeletal pain; Postural balance

MeSH Terms

Child*
Flatfoot*
Foot Orthoses*
Foot*
Humans
Musculoskeletal Pain
Pediatrics
Postural Balance

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Fabrication of custom molded rigid foot orthoses made with inverted orthotic technique. (A) Inverting of positive cast and platforming of the forefoot. (B) Remodeling of plantar arch from sustentaculum tali to the 1st metatarsal head. (C) Finalized orthosis.

  • Fig. 2 Frequency of pain occurrence. **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 of using repeated-measures analysis of variance.

  • Fig. 3 Visual analog scale (VAS) in the main pain site. **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 of using repeated-measures analysis of variance.


Cited by  1 articles

Effect of Foot Orthoses in Children With Symptomatic Flexible Flatfoot Based on Ultrasonography of the Ankle Invertor and Evertor Muscles
Dong Joon Cho, So Young Ahn, Soo-Kyung Bok
Ann Rehabil Med. 2021;45(6):459-470.    doi: 10.5535/arm.21137.


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