Background: The MLA is supported by both the abductor hallucis (ABH) and the extrinsic muscles. Insufficient muscular support may lower the MLA when the body’s weight is applied to the foot. The short foot exercise (SFE) is effective in increasing the height of the MLA for people with flat feet. Most of the research related to the SFE has simply evaluated the efficiency of the exercise using enhanced ABH electromyography (EMG) activation. Since the tibialis anterior (TA), peroneus longus (PER), and ABH are all involved in supporting the MLA, a new experiment design examining the EMG of the selected muscles during SFE should be applied to clarify its effect. Objects: Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the effect of the SFE in different ankle position on the MLA angle and the activation of both the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles and to determine the optimal position. Methods: 20 healthy subjects and 12 subjects with flat feet were recruited from Yonsei University. The surface EMG and camera were used to collect muscle activation amplitude of TA, PER, and ABH and to capture the image of MLA angle during SFE. The subjects performed the SFE while sitting in three different ankle positions—neutral (N), dorsiflexion (DF) at 30 degrees, and plantar flexion (PF) at 30 degrees. Results: ABH EMG amplitudes were significantly greater in N and DF than in PF (p<.05). Muscle activation ratio of TA to ABH was the lowest in PF (p<.05). MLA angle in both groups significantly decreased in PF (p<.01). The TA and ABH was activated at the highest level in DF. However, in PF, subjects significantly activated the ABH and PER with relatively low activation of TA. Conclusion: Therefore, researchers need to discuss which SFE condition most effectively use the arch support muscle for flat foot.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combined wedge on the range of motion in ankle and knee joint, ankle eversion moment and knee adduction moment, and center of pressure excursion of foot for genu varus among adult men during gait. This study was carried out with 10 adult men for genu varus in a motion analysis laboratory in J university. The subjects of the experiment were measured above 5cm width between the knees on contact of both medial malleolus of ankle while standing. The width of their knees in neutral position was measured without the inversion or eversion of the subtalar joint by the investigator. The subjects of the experiment were ten who were conducted randomly for standard insole, insole with 10° lateral on rear foot wedge, insole at 10°lateral on rear foot and 5° medial on fore foot wedge. Before and after intervention, changes on the range of motion in ankle and knee joint, ankle eversion moment and knee adduction moment, and center of pressure excursion were measured. In order to compare analyses among groups; repeated one-way ANOVA and Scheffé post hoc test were used. As a result, combined wedge group was significantly decreased compared to control wedge group in terms of knee varus angle in mid-stance(p<.05). Combined wedge group was significantly decreased compared to lateral wedge group in terms of ankle eversion moment in whole stance(p<.05). Combined wedge group was significantly decreased compared to lateral wedge group in terms of knee adduction moment in whole stance(p<.05). Combined wedge group was significantly decreased compared to lateral wedge in terms of center of pressure excursion in whole stance(p<.05). The results of this study suggest that combined wedge for genu varus decreased ankle eversion moment and knee adduction moment upon center of pressure excursion. We hypothesize that combined wedge may also be effective in the protection excessive ankle pronation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of concurrent and reciprocal isometric contraction and angle of ankle joint on fatigue of concentrically contracting contralateral dorsiflexor and plantar flexor. Seventeen able-bodied subjects participated in the study. Concurrent and reciprocal isometric contraction were performed under three different ankle joint angles (dorsiflexion, neutral position, plantar flexion). During concurrent or reciprocal isometric contraction. fatigue of concentrically contracting contralateral tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and soleus was investigated and compared. There was no interaction between different ankle joint angles and direction of isometric contraction (p<.05). No significant differences were found among three different ankle joint angles (p<.05). Contralateral muscle fatigability was lower in reciprocal isometric contraction than that in concurrent isometric contraction (p<.05). Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that reciprocal isometric contraction is more beneficial than concurrent isometric contraction inducing less fatigability during contralateral concentric contraction.