Ann Rehabil Med.  2019 Apr;43(2):224-229. 10.5535/arm.2019.43.2.224.

Long-Term Effect of Rigid Foot Orthosis in Children Older Than Six Years With Flexible Flat Foot

• Youn KJ
• Ahn SY
• Kim BO
• Park IS
• Bok SK

• KMID: 2449005
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2019.43.2.224

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term effect of a custom-made rigid foot orthosis (RFO) in children older than 6 years with pes planus (flat foot).
METHODS
Medical records of 42 children diagnosed with flexible pes planus who were fitted with RFOs based on the inverted technique and underwent more than four consecutive radiological studies were reviewed. Resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP), anteroposterior talocalcaneal angle, lateral talocalcaneal angle, lateral talometatarsal angle, and calcaneal pitch were initially measured in both feet to evaluate alignment. Followup clinical and radiological evaluations were then performed at 12-18, 24-30, 36-42, and ≥48 months after RFO application. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate significant differences.
RESULTS
Significant improvements in all radiological indicators and significant progression of RCSP toward the corrective direction were observed after RFO application relative to baseline measurements.
CONCLUSION
According to our findings, RFO can induce significant improvements in calcaneus-related radiographic indices and subsequently improve talus-related radiologic indices.

Keyword

Flatfoot; Foot orthoses; Radiology; Child

MeSH Terms

Child*
Flatfoot*
Follow-Up Studies
Foot Orthoses*
Foot*
Humans
Medical Records

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Representative radiographic images of both feet: (A) anteroposterior view and (B) lateral view indicating ① anteroposterior talocalcaneal angle, ② lateral talometatarsal angle, ③ lateral talocalcaneal angle, and ④ calcaneal pitch.

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  Fig. 2. Serial changes in anteroposterior talocalcaneal angle (APTCA), lateral talocalcaneal angle (LTTCA), lateral talometatarsal angle (LTTMA), calcaneal pitch (CP), and resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP) over time. *p<0.05; 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th correspond to evaluations conducted at 12–18, 24–30, 36–42, and ≥48 months after rigid foot orthosis application (i.e., baseline).

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