Effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization and Foot Strengthening Exercise on Navicular Height and Ankle Range of Motion in College Students with Flexible Flat Feet: A Comparative Study

Background: The medial longitudinal arch (MLA) plays a major role in maintaining the biomechanics of the foot and is maintained with the help of active and passive systems. Dysfunction of active and passive support system can lead to a reduction of navicular height, leading to excessive pronation of the foot known as pes planus. Pes planus is caused by injury, prolonged stress on the foot, obesity, and faulty biomechanics which will result in posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, collapse of the foot archand flat foot.The patients with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and pesplanus have reduced dorsiflexion and increased eversion.So, the aim was to study the effects of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and foot strengthening exercise on navicular height and ankle range of motion in college students with flexible flat feet. Method: Total 40 students were recruited for the study as per selection criteria and were divided into two groups (20 in each group). Group A was treated with Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization(IASTM)and group B was treated with Foot Strengthening Exercise for five days a week for 4 weeks. Inter-group analysis by Mann Whitney U-test showed statistically significant improvement in navicular height and ankle range of motion (P value ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed statistically significant improvement in navicular height and ankle ROM with the use of IASTM and foot strengthening exercise. However, IASTM was found to be more effective in improving ankle ROM and foot strengthening exercise was found to be more effective inincreasingnavicular height.