The effect of a selected physiotherapy program on pelvic deviations in cases of supple flat feet

Abstract

Supple flat feet is frequent condition having diverse effects on the entire lower limb kinetic chain including the pelvis. Thus, this study was conducted to compare the effects of an 8-weeks, conservative physiotherapy treatment program to a medial arch support on pelvic deviation. A prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled trial was conducted at the Physiotherapy department, college of health sciences, University of Sharjah. One hundred male participant were assed for pelvic obliquity and torsion before and after 8 weeks of the either an exercise program or using an insole for medial arch support. Group (A) received progressive short feet exercises, while group (B) used the insole for medial arch support. The study results revealed a statistically significant decrease in pelvic obliquity and pelvic torsion in the exercise group (A) only with values of (p = .030 and .035) respectively. No statistically significant difference was found within the insole group (B). Between groups analysis revealed a significant difference in favour of group (A) compared to group (B) for both pelvic obliquity (p = .039) and torsion (p = .036) respectively). To sum it up, short feet exercises were more effective in decreasing pelvic deviations in cases of bilateral supple flat feet.