Evaluation of foot posture among school teachers of mathura with reference to age - an evaluative study

The ankle and foot complex play a critical role in maintaining erect posture, as also in adaptation to supporting surfaces, in correcting postural sway in single limb stance, in shock absorption and in transition of ground reaction force (GRF) in order to aid the push off during normal gait1. Functional variance and minimal biomechanical alterations in the ankle and foot complex in turn alters the contact with the surface area and the peripheral sensory input in weight bearing posture2, 3. The effect of age on structural foot characteristics as well as on the plantar force and pressure distribution has been shown in previous studies. Aging affects also the risk of falling and adaptations strategies when walking4, 5. The analysis of different age groups revealed that the plantar pressure distribution pattern is the most distinct in toddlers, smaller differences were found between adults and seniors6. Elderly people tend to have more pronated and flatter feet, reduced range of motion of the ankle and first metatarsophalangeal joint, higher prevalence of hallux valgus, toe deformities, weaken toe plantar flexors and reduced tactile sensitivity7. Review of Literature: Hylton B. Menz; (2015) did a review study on biomechanics of aging of foot & ankle. This review study has provided an overview of changes in the structure & function of foot that are associated with aging & that have considerable implications for the well being of the older person with advancing age. The study concluded that there is general tendency for the foot to exhibit increased soft tissue stiffness, a decreased ROM, decreased strength & a more pronated posture with a reduced ROM & less efficient propulsion when walking14. Knowledge of normal foot posture in typically developing children helps to outline rehabilitation strategies most appropriate for the affected children as well as to monitor the progress with intervention8-10. Common methods available to measure foot posture in paediatric population are visual assessment, subjective clinical observations, radiographic appraisals, two dimensional video analysis, anthropometric values, footprint measures, arch index, valgus index, rear foot angle, navicular height, foot posture index etc11-12. Material & Methodology: Study Approval - The Maharaj Vinayak Global University (MVGU), Department of Research Committee (DRC) served as the approval board for this study. This study was submitted as a full board review, and the board members approved the study. 270 healthy teachers participated in the study & according to age were divided into four groups; Group A (21-30 years), Group B (31-40 years), Group C (41-50 years) & Group D (51-60 years). Total numbers of participants in each group were 103, 62, 75 & 30 respectively. The effect of age on foot posture was evaluated using Foot Posture Index – 6. RESULTS: In general, all the age groups - (21-30), (31-40), (41-50) & (51-60) showed significant changes in foot posture with advancing age in the form of either pronated or supinated foot. Paired sample‘t’ test was used, the ‘p’ value is .001 (which is less than .05), so the study shows that there is significant effect on all the age groups on foot posture with reference to age.