EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FOOT ARCH SUPPORTS ON DYNAMIC BALANCE IN NURSING PROFESSIONALS WITH FLATFOOT

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Flat foot, depletion of medial longitudinal arch affects almost
20% of adult global population; approximately 9-14% of
schools going children are flat foot making the gender wise
prevalence of about 13% girls and 7% boys, 11.25% population
of age group between 18-25 years are diagnosed as flat
footed.
AIM
The focus of this study is to device best possible strategy for the
nurses to overcome their deformity and live as normal and
pain free professional life as possible by providing foot supports
that bring foot arches to normal or near normal position.
METHOD
The subjects were divided into two groups. Group A and
Group B. Group A was asked to wear medial wedge support
and group B was prescribed heel support for 3 weeks.
RESULTS
Result shows that both the orthosis are useful in forming the
arch of foot, improving the dynamic balance and relieving the
symptoms of flatfoot but medial wedge is found to be more
efficient as compared to heel support.
CONCLUSION
It was concluded from the study that foot arch and heel
support improves the flat foot, however medial longitudinal
arch are found to be more therapeutically effective in recovering
the foot arch in comparison to heel support.

KEYWORDS
Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), Flat Foot, Foot Arch, Medial
Arch, Heel Support, Navicular drop test