The relationship between pronated foot and lower extremity, pelvic, and lumbar alignment in asymptomatic young adults: A cross-sectional study

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 53 - 60, 28.02.2025

Hatice Gül , Suat Erel , İbrahim Karaca

https://doi.org/10.31459/turkjkin.1624898

Abstract

The relationship between foot pronation and the alignment of the lower extremities, pelvis, and spine remains contentious in the literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pronated foot and lower limb, pelvis and lumbar region alignment in asymptomatic young adults. The study included 96 feet of 48 participants aged 18-25 years with no pain complaints. The arch structure was evaluated with the Staheli index calculated from the footprint. The alignment of the lower extremities, pelvis and lumbar region were evaluated from photographs using posture evaluation programs. Spearman’s correlational analysis was used to examine the correlations between continuous variables, and the Mann Whitney U-test to compare independent group differences, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. The Staheli index showed a weak positive correlation with the calcaneo-tibial angle (r=0.26, p<0.05) but no significant correlations with other biomechanical parameters of the proximal segment. Statistically significant differences were determined between the pronated foot group (n=49) and the control group (n=47) in respect of the Staheli index and the calcaneotibial angle (p<0.05). Lower extremity, pelvic and spine alignment values were similar between groups. These results showed that arch structure was not related to alignment in the proximal segments. The only exception was the calcaneotibial angle, which is a foot-related biomechanical parameter. The study results were similar to findings in the literature stating that foot pronation will not cause any changes in alignments of proximal body regions. Conducting this study in asymptomatic adults, in whom biomechanical compensations have already occurred during growth process, may offer valuable insights into the potential relationship between foot pronation and proximal alignment.

Keywords

Biomechanics, compensation, flatfoot, medial longitudinal arch, postural alignment

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Akdeniz University (KAEK-902, December 13, 2023) and it was carried out in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association also known as a declaration of Helsinki.

Thanks

We thank all participants for their participation in this study.

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