Background: Alignment of the lower limb is an important factor, influencing balance and gait in kinematics and kinetics, in patients with and without a flat arched foot. Flat arched foot are associated with the range of motion (ROM) of the hip and alignments of the knee joints, is strongly influenced. Objects: The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between hip joint ROM and quadriceps angle (Q-angle), by dividing them into two groups according to the presence or absence of flat feet, using a navicular drop test (NDT) and resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP). Methods: Forty elderly patients were allocated to the experimental group (flat foot group, n1=20) or the control group (non-flat group, n2=20). Universal and digital goniometer, tractograph and tape measure were used to determine the related changes in the hip ROM, Q-angle, NDT and RCSP. joint (right, r=.803, p<.001), (left, r=.951, p<.001) were highly correlated with NDT, and also, was moderately correlated with Q-angle (right, r=.562, p=.019), (left, r=.757, p<.001). Passive internal ROM of the hip joint (right, r=.742, p=.001), (left, r=.922, p<.001) were highly correlated with NDT, and also, was moderately correlated with RCSP (right, r=-.530, p=.029) and with Q-angle (right, r=.710, p=.001), (left, r=.698, p=.002) in the flat foot group. However, no strong correlation among the hip ROM, NDT, RCSP and Q-angle were found in the non-flat foot group. Conclusion: This research may provide evidence of the correlations between hip internal ROM and flat foot.

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.

Background:Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) rely on their upper limbs for body-lifting activity (BLA). While studies have examined the electromyography (EMG) and kinematics of the shoulder joints during BLA, no studies have considered foot position during BLA.Objects:This study compared the effects of different foot positions during BLA on the shoulder muscle activities, peak plantar pressure, knee flexion angle, and rating perceived exertion in individuals with SCI.Methods:The study enrolled 13 mens with motor-complete paraplegic SCI, ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) A or B. All subjects performed BLA with the feet positioned on the wheelchair footrest and on the floor independently. Surface EMG was used to collect data from the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, serratus anterior, and triceps brachii. The peak plantar pressure was measured using pedar-X and the knee flexion angle with Image J. Borg’s rating perceived exertion scale was used to measure the physical activity intensity level. The paired t-test was used to compare the shoulder muscle activities, peak plantar pressure, knee flexion angle, and rating perceived exertion between the two feet positions during BLA.Results:The activity of the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, serratus anterior, and triceps brachii and rating perceived exertion decreased significantly and the peak plantar pressure and knee flexion angle increased significantly when performing BLA with the feet positioned on the wheelchair footrest compared with on the floor (p<.05).Conclusion:These findings suggest that individuals with SCI may perform BLA with the feet positioned on the wheelchair footrest for weight-relief lifting to decrease the shoulder muscle activities and the rating perceived exertion and to increase the peak plantar pressure and the knee flexion angle.

The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of wedged insole and foot progression angle (FPG) on lateral thrust of knee in healthy subjects. Fifteen healthy male subjects were recruited from Suncheon First College, in Suncheon. The subjects randomly walked at the comfortable velocity under five conditions: bare footed, medio-lateral wedged insoles, toe-in and toe-out gait. The lateral thrust was measured by a accelerometer with telemeter during walking. Data was collected while each subject walked for about 10 gait cycle on a flat, level walkway at their normal speed. The middle three gait cycle were used for averaged peak value of lateral acceleration. The three averaged peak value of lateral acceleration were collected under each condition at heel strike. The results showed that averaged peak value of lateral acceleration increased significantly in medial wedged insole and toe-in gait and decreased significantly in lateral wedged insole and toe-out gait as compared with bare footed (p<.05). These results suggest that wedged insole as well as walking strategy, such as foot progression angle, may prevent progression of degenerative knee osteoarthritis.

The purpose of this study was to find the effect of rear foot wedge angle on peak plantar pressures on the forefoot during walking. Twenty normal healthy subjects (10 female, 10 male) were recruited. Peak plantar pressure was measured using pressure distribution platforms (MatScan system) in medial forefoot (under the first, second metatarsal head) and lateral forefoot (under the third, fourth, fifth metatarsal head). The subjects walked at the comfortable velocity under seven conditions; bare footed, , and wedges under the medial and lateral sides of the hindfoot. The three averaged peak plantar pressures were collected at each condition at stance and toe off phases. The results showed that a significant increase in lateral forefoot plantar peak pressure investigated in the medial wedge and a significant decrease in lateral forefoot plantar peak pressure investigated in lateral wedge at stance phase (p<.05). These results suggest that rear foot wedge may be useful to modify the peak plantar pressure on the forefoot.

The purpose of this study was to compare the balance ability at different foot angle with KAT 2000 (Breg, Inc., Vista, CA. 1994). Forty-nine (male 24, female 25) normal subjects participated in this study. All subjects were assessed under two conditions. One was eye-opened condition and the other one was eye-closed one in 3 psi surface condition. All subjects were tested at different foot angle that were toe-in , , toe-out and . The subject attempted to keep the platform as stable as possible with eyes closed and with eyes opened for every 20 seconds. The starting position was that subject crossed their arms across chest and flexed knees slightly. The results of each test were showed by a score on screen, which meant balance index. The se collected data were analyzed by using oneway ANOVA, Scheffe test, and t-test. The results of this study were as follows: 1. When the foot angle were changed, balance index was the lowest in toes-out condition and greatest with toes-in with eyes opened and with eyes closed. There were statistically significant difference with eyes opened and with eyes closed (p<0.05). 2. There was statistically significant difference in balance index according to visual condition and the balance index tested with eyes closed was higher than with eyes closed(p<0.05). 3. There was statistically significant difference in balance index by gender(p<0.05).

본 연구는 영상의학과에 내원한 족부환자를 대상으로 족부 X선 검사 시 주상골(navicular)의 관찰이 어려운 점을 바탕으로 환자의 position과 X선관 각도의 변화를 주어 어떠한 position과 X선관 각도에서 주상골의 관찰이 용이한지를 알아보고자 하였다. 주상골 관찰을 위해 실험대상자의 position은 Foot AP, internal oblique, external Oblique position의 세 가지로 하였다. T-F angle(Tibia-Foot angle)은 90°와 135°로 정의하였고, X선관 각도는 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°로 정의하여 실험한 후 획득한 영상을 비교 평가하였다. 실험결과, Foot AP position에서 T-F angle이 90°인 경우 X선관 각도가 15°일 때 설상골과 주상골의 겹침 정도는 3%이었고 블라인드 테스트 결과는 4.89점으로 골절의 판독 용이성이 가장 높았으며, T-F angle이 135°경우에는 X선관 각도가 15°일 때 설상골과 주상골의 겹침 정도는 5%이었고 블라인드 테스트 결과는 4.30점으로 판독 용이성이 가장 높았다. Foot internal oblique position에서는 T-F angle이 90°인 경우 X선관 각도가 0°일 때 설상골과 주상골의 겹침 정도는 4%이었고 블라인드 테스트 결과는 4.70점으로 가장 높았으며, T-F angle이 135°경우에는 X선관 각도가 0°일 때 그 겹침 정도는 5%이었고 블라인드 테스트 결과는 4.55점으로 가장 높게 나타났다. Foot external oblique position에서 T-F angle이 90°인 경우 X선관 각도가 15°일 때 설상골과 주상골의 겹침 정도는 4%이었고 블라인드 테스트 결과는 4.85점으로 가장 높았으며, T-F angle이 135°경우에는 X선관 각도가 15°일 때 그 겹침 정도는 5%이었고 블라인드 테스트 결과는 4.75점으로 가장 높게 나타났다. 결론적으로, 본 연구를 통하여 X 선 족부검사에서 각 position에 해당하는 주상골 관찰에 용이한 T-F 각도와 X선관 각도를 확인할 수 있었으며, 향후 본 연구 결과를 바탕으로 주상골 골절 판독에 유용한 참고자료가 될 수 있을 것으로 여겨진다.