Background: Single-leg squat (SLS)s are commonly used as assessment tool and closed kinetic exercises are useful for assessing performance of the lower extremities. Pronated feet are associated with foot pressure distribution (FPD) during daily activities. Objects: To compare the FPD during SLSs between groups with pronated and normal feet. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 30 participants (15 each in the pronated foot and control groups) are recruited in this study. The foot posture index was used to distinguish between the pronated foot and control groups. The Zebris FDM (Zebris Medical GmbH) stance analysis system was used to measure the FPD on the dominant side during a SLS, which was divided into three phases. A two-way mixed-model ANOVA was used to identify significant differences in FPD between and within the two groups. Results: In the hallux, the results of the two-way mixed-model ANOVAs revealed a significant difference between the group and across different phases (p < 0.05). The hallux, and central forefoot were significantly different between the group (p < 0.05). Moreover, significant differences across different phases were observed in the hallux, medial forefoot, central forefoot, lateral forefoot, and rearfoot (p < 0.05). The post hoc t-tests were conducted for the hallux and forefoot central regions. In participants with pronated foot, the mean pressure was significantly greater in hallux and significantly lower, in the central forefoot during the descent and holding phases. Conclusion: SLSs are widely used as screening tests and exercises. These findings suggest that individuals with pronated feet should be cautious to avoid excessive pressure on the hallux during the descent-to-hold phase of a SLS.

Background: Considering the kinetic chain of the lower extremity, a pronated foot position (PFP) can affect malalignment of the lower extremity, such as a dynamic knee valgus (DKV). Although the DKV during several single-leg movement tests has been investigated, no studies have compared the differences in DKV during a single-leg step down (SLSD) between subjects with and without PFP. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the DKV during SLSD between subjects with and without PFP. Methods: Twelve subjects with PFP (9 men, 3 women) and 15 subjects without PFP (12 men, 3 women) participated in this study. To calculate the DKV, frontal plane projection angle (FPPA), knee-in distance (KID), and hip-out distance (HOD) during SLSD were analyzed by twodimensional video analysis software (Kinovea). Results: The FPPA was significantly lower in PFP group, compared with control group (166.4° ± 7.5° and 174.5° ± 5.5°, p < 0.05). Also, the KID was significantly greater in PFP group, compared with control group (12.7 ± 3.9 cm and 7.3 ± 2.4 cm, p < 0.05). However, the HOD not significantly differed between two groups (12.7 ± 1.7 cm and 11.4 ± 2.5 cm, p > 0.05). Conclusion: The PFP is associated with lower FPPA and greater KID. When assess the DKV during SLSD, the PFP should be considered as a crucial factor for occurrence of DKV.

Background: The foot is a complex body structure that plays an important role in static and dynamic situations. Previous studies have reported that altered foot posture might affect knee joint strength and postural stability, however their relationship still remains unclear. Objects: The purpose of this study was to identify whether pronated foot posture has an influence on knee isokinetic strength and static and dynamic postural stability. Methods: Forty healthy young males aged 18 to 26 years were included. Foot posture was evaluated using the Foot Posture Index-6 (FPI-6), and the subjects were divided into two groups according to their FPI-6 scores: a neutral foot group (n = 20, FPI-6 score 0 to +5) and a pronated foot group (n = 20, FPI-6 score +6 or more). Biodex Systems 3 isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate knee isokinetic strength and hamstring to quadriceps ratio at three angular velocities: 60°/sec, 90°/sec, and 180°/sec. The static and dynamic postural stability in a single-leg stance under the eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions were measured with a Biodex Balance System. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in knee isokinetic strength and static postural stability (p > 0.05), but there was a significant difference in the medial– lateral stability index (MLSI) for dynamic postural stability under the eyes-closed condition (p = 0.022). The FPI-6 scores correlated significantly only with the dynamic overall stability index (OSI) and the MLSI (OSI: R = 0.344, p = 0.030; MLSI: R = 0.409, p = 0.009) under the eyesclosed condition. Conclusion: Participants with pronated foot had poorer medial–lateral dynamic stability under an eyes-closed condition than those without, and FPI-6 scores were moderately positively correlated with dynamic OSI and dynamic MLSI under the eyes-closed condition. These results suggest that pronated foot posture could induce a change in postural stability, but not in knee isokinetic strength.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of walking on crural muscle tone and stiffness in individuals with bilateral pronated foot. This study consisted of 16 healthy male. Subjects were divided into a pronated foot group (n = 8) and a normal foot group (n = 8). The navicular drop test on both foot and muscle tone and stiffness in tibialis anterior muscle, medial gastrocnemius muscle, and peroneus longus muscle of both lower extremities were measured before and after 30 min of walking. In this study, the measured navicular drop test before walking was significantly different between pronated foot group and a normal group(p < .05). After 30 min of walking, significantly, increased medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness of the non-dominant leg was found in the pronated foot group (p < .05). However, there was no significant difference in medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness between the two groups (p > .05). Based on this study, pronated foot needs to be managed to prevent the abnormally increased medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness.

Background: Increased foot pronation causes biomedchanical changes at the lower limbs, which may result in musculoskeletal injuries at the proximal joints. Pronation rear-foot leads to plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and posterior tibial tendonitis pathologically. According to the recent meta-analysis, They showed that therapeutic adhesive taping is more effective than foot orthoses and motion control footwear, low-Dye (LD) taping has become the most popular method used by physiotherapists. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects of LD taping results in different ankle motion and ground reaction force (GRF) as before and after applied LD taping on pronated rear-foot during gait. Methods: Twenty-four participants were recruited for this study. The gait data were recorded using an 8-camera motion capture system and two force platforms. At first, the experiments were carried out that participants walked barefoot without LD taping. And then they walked both feet was applied LD taping. Results: The ankle inversion minimum was significantly greater after LD taping than before LD taping (p=.04); however, in the GRF, there were no significant differences in the inversion maximum or total motion of the stance phase (p=.33, p=.07), or in the vertical (p=.33), posterior (p=.22), and lateral (p=.14) peak forces. Conclusion: The application of taping to pronation rear-foot assists in increased ankle inversion.