Gabriel Gijon-Nogueron

Effects of kinesiotaping on foot posture in participants with pronated foot: A quasi-randomised, double-blind study

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether kinesiotaping improves excessive foot pronation compared with sham kinesiotaping. DESIGN Quasi-randomised, double-blind study. SETTING One primary care centre. PARTICIPANTS One hundred and thirty participants were screened for inclusion. Sixty-eight participants with pronated feet [Foot Posture Index (FPI)≥ 6] were enrolled, and the follow-up rate was 100%. INTERVENTIONS Participants were allocated into one of two groups: an experimental kinesiotaping group (KT1) and a sham taping group (KT2). Measures were collected by a blinded assessor at baseline, and 1 minute, 10 minutes, 60 minutes and 24 hours after taping. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was total FPI score, and the secondary outcome was rear-foot FPI score. RESULTS There were no significant differences in total FPI score between kinesiotaping and sham taping at any time point. Similarly, there were no significant differences in rear-foot FPI score, apart from at 60-minute follow-up when the difference between groups was significant (P=0.04) but the effect size was very small (0.85 points on the rear-foot FPI score between -6 and +6). CONCLUSIONS Kinesiotaping does not correct foot pronation compared with sham kinesiotaping in people with pronated feet.

Anthropometric Foot Changes During Pregnancy A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND Womens feet change during pregnancy owing to hormonal and anatomical changes, thus having a strong influence on the decrease in their quality of life during pregnancy. This preliminary study aimed to value the anthropometric and positional changes that affect their feet. METHODS Ten pregnant women were measured during their gestational period to analyze the anthropometric changes in their feet from the 12th week of pregnancy. We examined the changes that occured in foot length, forefoot width, arch of the foot height, and the fixed position of the foot by using the Foot Posture Index, and we analyzed three intervals corresponding to pregnancy weeks 12, 24, and 34. RESULTS The most significant finding, with a reliability rate of 95%, is the decrease in internal arch height, which descends 0.65 mm (0.0394 inches) on average at the final stage of the pregnancy period. This change happened in 18 of the feet analyzed, tending toward pronation according to the measure provided by the Foot Posture Index, with a change of 3.78 points on this scale. CONCLUSIONS The foot of the pregnant woman tends to flatten during gestational weeks 12 to 34, taking a more pronated posture, and the anthropometric changes in late pregnancy result in increases in foot length and forefoot width, changes that seem to be moderate.

Development, validation and psychometric analysis of the diabetic foot self-care questionnaire of the University of Malaga, Spain (DFSQ-UMA)

This paper assessed the reliability and construct validity of a tool to evaluate the foot self-care of diabetic patients. The education of diabetic patients about their foot care is a major issue to avoid complications like amputations and ulcers. Specific tools aimed to assess patients knowledge in this area are needed. The study had two phases: in Phase 1, item-generation was carried out through a literature review, expert review by a Delphi technique and cognitive interviews with diabetic patients for testing readability and comprehension. In Phase 2, diabetic patients participated in a cross-sectional study for a psychometric evaluation (reliability and construct validity) was carried out on a sample of type I and II diabetic patients. The study was conducted at the University of Malaga (Spain), podiatric clinics and a Diabetic Foot Unit between October 2012 and March 2013. After psychometric-test analyses on a sample of 209 diabetic patients, the questionnaire resulted in 16 questions. Cronbachs alpha was 0.89 after removing 4 items because of their low reliability. Inter-item correlations gave a mean value of 0.34 (range: 0.06-0.74). The rotated solution showed a 3-factor structure (self-care, foot care, and footwear and socks) that jointly accounted for 60.88% of the variance observed. The correlation between the questionnaire scores and HbA1c was significant and inverse, (r = -0.15; p < 0.01). The findings show that the questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating foot self-care behavior in diabetic patients.

Changes in the parameters of gait after a mechanical debridement of a plantar callosities

INTRODUCTION Plantar callosities are a common cause of pain in the forefoot and also a cause of alterations in plantar pressure. Mechanical debridement with a scalpel can relieve pain and increase functional capacity. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to analyse if debridement of plantar callosities and corns modify walking. METHODS Thirty four patients with plantar foot pain due to callosities and corns, and up to 5 in the visual analogical scale (VAS) of pain, (20 women, age 29 ± 11.57 years) were analysed by taking into account the changes of their gait. The outcome measurement was the VAS scale and the Win-track system, cycle of the gait(milliseconds), angle(degrees), cadence(number/minutes) and step(centimetres) were measured, 24 h before and after the debridement with a scalpel. RESULTS There were significant differences in foot pain (mean 67.7, p < 0.001) but there were no significant differences in measures of gait variables before the debridement of the callosities, and 24 h after the procedure, being all those above 0.05. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that the debridement with scalpel does not change the variables of the gait 24 h after the procedure.

Foot orthoses custom-made by vacuum forming on the non-load-bearing foot: Preliminary results in male children with calcaneal apophysitis (Sever's disease)

Background and aim: To our knowledge, the technique of molding orthoses to the non-load-bearing foot is still not widely investigated. The aim of this work is, therefore, first, to describe an off-loading custom-made technique and, second, to explain how it can be specifically adapted to treat Sever’s disease. Techniques: A technique of directly molding orthoses to the non-load-bearing foot by vacuum forming an insole to the foot fabricated with a combination of polyvinyl chloride and polyester resins, 30 Shore A hardness and 148 kg/m3 density polyethylene–ethylene-vinyl-alcohol, and a cushioning heel cup of 22 Shore A polyurethane, using a directly molding orthoses technique to the non-load-bearing foot by vacuum. Discussion: Results show that this new technique could be a good alternative to traditional insoles in the management of Sever’s disease pain. Clinical relevance Manufacturing the insole directly on the patient’s foot could lead to a better individual adaptation in general, and to manage Sever’s pain disease in particular.

Effectiveness of neuromuscular taping on pronated foot posture and walking plantar pressures in amateur runners

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect kinesiotaping (KT) versus sham kinesiotaping (sham KT) in the repositioning of pronated feet after a short running. DESIGN Prospective, randomised, double-blinded, using a repeated-measures design with no cross-over. METHODS 116 amateur runners were screened by assessing the post-run (45min duration) foot posture to identify pronated foot types (defined by Foot Posture Index [FPI] score of ≥6). Seventy-three runners met the inclusion criteria and were allocated into two treatment groups, KT (n=49) and sham KT (n=24). After applying either the KT or sham KT and completing 45min of running (mean speed of 12km/h), outcome measures were collected (FPI and walking Pedobarography). RESULTS FPI was reduced in both groups, more so in the KT group (mean FPI between group difference=0.9, CI 0.1-1.9), with a score closer to neutral. There were statistically significant differences between KT and sham KT (p<.05 and p<.01) in pressure time integral, suggesting that sham KT had a greater effect. CONCLUSIONS KT may be of some assistant to clinicians in correction of pronated foot posture in a short-term. There was no effect of KT, however on pressure variables at heel strike or toe-off following a short duration of running, the sham KT technique had a greater effect. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapy, level 1b.

Overweight, obesity and foot posture in children: A cross‐sectional study

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between obesity and foot posture in children.

The Foot Posture Index in Men Practicing Three Sports Different in Their Biomechanical Gestures

BACKGROUND The technical gestures characteristic of certain sports may lead to one type of foot being more prevalent than the others. The Foot Posture Index (FPI) has been used as a diagnostic tool for support postures in various sports, but the differences in these postures between sports of distinct gestures in their actions are far from completely understood. METHODS The overall FPI, obtained as the sum of the scores of its six individual criteria, was determined in 90 male athletes (30 runners, 30 basketball players, and 30 handball players) in static bipedal stance and relaxed position. Analysis of variance was used to find significant differences among the three sports in the total FPI and its six criteria. RESULTS The mean ± SD FPI was 2.9 ± 2.8 in runners, 3.9 ± 4.1 in basketball players, and -0.4 ± 6.9 in handball players, with significant differences among these groups (P = .008). Significant differences were also found in the talar head position and talonavicular prominence values between handball players and runners (P = .001 and P = .004, respectively) and between handball and basketball players (P = .002 and P = .006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Runners and basketball players had neutral feet, whereas handball players had supinated feet. The differences in foot posture seem to be mainly determined by two of the FPI criteria: talar head position and talonavicular prominence.

Normal values of the Foot Posture Index in a young adult Spanish population: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND Although the appearance of foot or lower-limb pathologies is etiologically multifactorial, foot postures in pronation or supination have been related to certain diseases such as patellofemoral syndrome and plantar fasciitis. The objective of the present study was to determine the normal values of foot posture in a healthy young adult Spanish sample, and to identify individuals at risk of developing some foot pathology. METHODS The Foot Posture Index (FPI) was determined in a sample of 635 (304 men, 331 women) healthy young adults (ages 18-30 years). The FPI raw score was transformed into a logit score, and a new classification was obtained with the mean ± 2 SD to identify the 5% of the sample with potentially pathologic feet. RESULTS The normal range of the FPI was -1 to +6, and FPI values from +10 to +12 and -6 to -12 could be classified as indicating potentially pathologic feet. The womens logit FPI (0.50 ± 1.4, raw FPI +3) was higher than the mens (0.25 ± 1.6, raw FPI +2), with the difference being significant (P = 0.038). No statistically significant differences were found between body mass index groups (P = 0.141). CONCLUSIONS The normal FPI range goes from just one point of supination to a certain degree of pronation (+6). The identification of 35 individuals with potentially pathologic feet may help in the implementation of a preventive plan to avoid the appearance of foot disorders.

Risk Factors and Protective Factors for Lower-Extremity Running Injuries A Systematic Review.

A review of the scientific literature was performed 1) to identify studies describing the most common running injuries and their relation to the risk factors that produce them and 2) to search for potential and specific protective factors. Spanish and English biomedical search engines and databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Database Enfermería Fisioterapia Podología [ENFISPO], Cochrane Library, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) were queried (February 1 to November 30, 2013). A critical reading and assessment was then performed by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Spanish tool. In total, 276 abstracts that contained the selected key words were found. Of those, 25 identified and analyzed articles were included in the results. Injuries result from inadequate interaction between the runners biomechanics and external factors. This leads to an excessive accumulation of impact peak forces in certain structures that tends to cause overuse injuries. The main reasons are inadequate muscle stabilization and pronation. These vary depending on the runners foot strike pattern, foot arch morphology, and sex. Specific measures of modification and control through running footwear are proposed.