Effects of sensorimotor training combined with short foot exercise on knee and ankle gait kinematics in individuals with flatfoot: A preliminary study.
Dong-Chul Moon, Ju-Hyeon Jung
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In 30 seconds
This preliminary randomized controlled trial compared six weeks of sensorimotor training plus short-foot exercises with sensorimotor training alone in 32 asymptomatic young adults with flexible flatfoot. Gait kinematics were measured before and after training. The combined-training group showed significant changes in several measures, including reduced peak knee internal rotation and peak ankle eversion, alongside increased peak ankle inversion. The study reports significant group-by-time interactions, but the abstract does not provide between-group change estimates for these outcomes.
Key findings
- Peak ankle inversion increased in the combined-training group (95% CI: 0.53-2.71; P = .004; ηp2 = 0.244).
- Peak ankle eversion decreased (95% CI: 1.68-4.89; P = .002; ηp2 = 0.279), as did peak knee internal rotation (95% CI: -9.92 to -2.82; P = .006; ηp2 = 0.228).
- Sagittal plane ankle ROM and transverse plane knee ROM decreased (95% CI: -4.88 to -0.68; P = .001; and 95% CI: -7.75 to -4.01; P = .003, respectively).
- No significant changes were found in ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, knee external rotation, or frontal plane ankle ROM.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that adding short-foot exercises to sensorimotor training may alter selected ankle and knee gait kinematics in young adults with flexible flatfoot. These measured changes may inform further evaluation of exercise-based approaches, while the study does not establish whether the kinematic differences improve symptoms, function, or longer-term outcomes.
What to keep in mind
This was a preliminary study of 32 asymptomatic young adults, with outcomes limited to gait kinematics after six weeks; the abstract reports no symptom or longer-term outcomes.