Article

Different types of foot orthoses have been prescribed for patients
with flatfoot. Results of several studies have shown that orthoses were able to
change balance parameters in people with flatfoot.
However, the possible effect
of orthosis flexibility on balance has not yet been investigated. The aim of the current study was to investigate the immediate effect of a rigid
University of California Berkeley Laboratory (UCBL) foot orthosis, a modified
foot orthosis, and a normal shoe on the postural sway of people with flexible
flatfoot. STUDY DESIGN: Quasi-experimental. METHODS: In all, 20 young adults with
flatfoot (aged 23.5 +/- 2.8 years) were invited to participate in this study. The
Biodex Stability System was employed to perform standing balance tests under
three testing conditions, namely, shoe only, UCBL, and modified foot orthosis.
Total, medial-lateral, and anterior-posterior sway were evaluated for each
condition. RESULTS: The results of this study revealed no statistical difference
in the medial-lateral and anterior-posterior stability indices between foot
orthoses and shoed conditions. The overall stability index with the UCBL foot
orthosis, however, was significantly lower than that with the modified foot
orthosis. CONCLUSION: The UCBL foot orthosis was able to decrease total sway and
improve balance in people with flexible flatfoot. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of
previous studies have indicated that foot orthoses were able to affect the
balance of people with flatfeet. However, the possible effects of flexible
orthoses on balance have not been examined. The results of this study may provide
new insight into material selection for those people with balance disorders.
CI - (c) The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS