Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Abnormal foot posture can influence the control capacity of human posture. To normalize the foot posture can improve the postural stability, but the relevant mechanism is unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To observe whether normalizing the foot posture could affect the postural control of healthy adults at a static standing position immediately.
METHODS: Thirty healthy adults were involved. Postural stability test was done both with and without an unmolded foot orthosis (VASYLI-HowardDananber^TM) normalizing the foot posture. The foot posture index (FPI-6) and rearfoot-to-leg angle were measured to measure the foot postures. Postural control capacity was also measure in the subjects standing on one leg before and after foot posture variation by using Active Balancer EAB-100.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Foot postures were improved significantly after unmolded foot orthosis intervention. But the postural stabilities were not improved at one-leg standing position. These findings indicate that the unmolded foot orthoses can normalize the foot posture with slight pronation, but have no significant effects on the postural stability. Although to normalize the foot posture has a long-term effect on the control of static postures, the mechanism is not simple to improve the foot structure.