Classification of the foot kinematics during gait and the characteristics of the knee and hip kinematics in individuals with pronated foot.

Overuse injuries are often caused by pronated foot and the associated abnormal lower-extremity kinematics during dynamic activities. Various patterns of foot kinematics are observed among individuals with pronated feet during dynamic activities, resulting in different dynamic kinematics of the proximal joint. This study aimed to identify the foot kinematic patterns during gait among individuals with pronated feet and evaluate the relationship between these foot kinematic patterns and the hip and knee kinematics.

Effect of Neuromuscular Electrostimulation With Blood Flow Restriction on Acute Muscle Swelling of the Abductor Hallucis.

Context: Plantar intrinsic foot muscle strength training is difficult to master to a degree sufficient to elicit muscle hypertrophy in most individuals. It is possible that combining neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) and blood flow restriction (BFR) can elicit plantar intrinsic foot muscle hypertrophy regardless of the individual's technique. This study aimed to determine the effects of NMES training with BFR on acute muscle swelling in the abductor hallucis.

Effects of Nutritional Support Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Muscle Strength and Thickness: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Healthy Young Adult Males.

In the management of post-injury patients with activity limitations, methods to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and hasten recovery are important. This randomized controlled, single-blinded study was a preliminary investigation of the combined effect of nutritional support with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on muscle strength and thickness. Healthy young adult males (median age, 21 years) were enrolled; each of their hands was randomly assigned to one of the following four groups: Placebo, Nutrition, NMES, and Nutrition + NMES.

Comparison of foot kinematics and ground reaction force characteristics during walking in individuals with highly and mildly pronated feet.

Background: Individuals with highly pronated feet (PF) are more prone to lower extremity injuries than those with mildly PF. However, whether foot kinematics and ground reaction force (GRF) characteristics differ according to the severity of PF deformity is unclear.

Research Question: Are there differences in foot kinematics and GRF characteristics during walking between individuals with mildly PF and those with highly PF?

Methods: Ten individuals with mildly PF and 10 with highly PF (six-item foot posture index scores: 6-9 and 10-12 points, respectively) participated in this study.

Effect of protruding stickers enhancing plantar sensory feedback on control of the center of force trajectory during gait: A preliminary study.

Background: Abnormal kinematics and kinetics in the lower extremity during gait may be improved by modulating the center of force trajectory of the foot. This study aimed to confirm whether short-interval training using plastic hemispherical protruding stickers (diameter: 5 mm; height: 2 mm) attached to the plantar surface of the foot to enhance plantar sensory feedback can help actively control the center of force trajectory during gait.

Methods: Twenty healthy female subjects underwent three-dimensional barefoot gait analysis under control conditions and two post-training conditions.

Influence of the menstrual cycle on static and dynamic kinematics of the foot medial longitudinal arch.

Background: In women, the laxity of the plantar fascia increases during the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle. Although it is possible that this increased laxity results in a decreased height of the foot in the medial longitudinal arch and exacerbates symptoms of several overuse injuries of the lower extremity, the influence of the menstrual cycle on static and dynamic kinematics of the medial longitudinal arch is unclear. The purpose of this study was to confirm that the medial longitudinal arch height during static standing, gait, and landing decrease during the menstrual cycle ovulation phase.

Classification of medial longitudinal arch kinematics during running and characteristics of foot muscle morphology in novice runners with pronated foot.

Background: Novice runners with pronated feet are at an increased risk of running-related injuries. However, not all runners with pronated feet have increased foot pronation during running. Moreover, although foot muscle morphology is related to static foot alignment, the relationship between foot muscle morphology and foot kinematics during running remains unclear.

Relationship between foot muscle morphology and severity of pronated foot deformity and foot kinematics during gait: A preliminary study.

Background: The morphology of foot muscles that support the medial longitudinal arch differs between normal and pronated feet. The degree to which the difference depends on the severity of the pronated foot deformity is unclear. In the clinical setting, however, to reduce the pronated deformity, muscle-strengthening exercises are performed.

Intrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercises with electromyographic biofeedback achieve increased toe flexor strength in older adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Toe flexor strength is important for preventing older adults from falling. Although intrinsic foot muscles are the main determinants of toe flexor strength, exercises for strengthening these muscles are difficult for older adults. This study therefore aimed to determine whether the use of electromyographic biofeedback helps older adults to perform intrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercises.

Effects of plantar intrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercise on static and dynamic foot kinematics: A pilot randomized controlled single-blind trial in individuals with pes planus.

Background: No reliable evidence has confirmed whether plantar intrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercises improve static and dynamic foot kinematics in individuals with pes planus.

Research Question: Does the short-foot exercise affect static foot alignment and foot kinematics during gait in individuals with pes planus?

Methods: This was a randomized controlled single-blind trial involving 20 participants with pes planus who were randomly allocated to a short-foot exercise group (exercise) or a control group (controls). Exercise patients performed a progressive short-foot exercise three times per week for 8 weeks; controls received no intervention.

Effect of electromyographic biofeedback on learning the short foot exercise.

Background: The short foot (SF) exercise is a strengthening exercise for the intrinsic foot muscles that is difficult to master.

Objective: To examine the effect of three different electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback methods on learning the SF exercise.

Methods: Thirty-six healthy subjects were randomly allocated to the control group (CTG), EMG-controlled electrical stimulation group (ESG), visual EMG biofeedback group (VSG), and combination EMG-controlled electrical stimulation with visual EMG biofeedback group (CBG).

The effect of additional activation of the plantar intrinsic foot muscles on foot kinematics in flat-footed subjects.

Background: Strengthening exercises of the plantar intrinsic foot muscles (PIFMs) are often prescribed to flat-footed subjects because of the capacity of the PIFMs to support the medial longitudinal arch (MLA). However, it is unclear whether the capacity of the PIFMs to support the MLA is enough to change the foot kinematics in flat-footed subjects. To confirm this, the current study examined changes in foot kinematics in flat-footed subjects during standing and gait accompanied by changes in the activity of the PIFMs.

The effect of additional activation of the plantar intrinsic foot muscles on foot dynamics during gait.

Background: The plantar intrinsic foot muscles (PIFMs) contribute to support the medial longitudinal arch. But the functional role of the PIFMs during dynamic activities is not clear. The purpose of this study was to examine the change in the foot dynamics during gait accompanied with the change in the PIFMs activity to determine the functional role of the PIFMs during gait.

Does the weakening of intrinsic foot muscles cause the decrease of medial longitudinal arch height?

[Purpose] There are no reliable evidences that the weakening of intrinsic foot muscles causes the decrease of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) height. The purpose of this study was to confirm whether the fatigue of intrinsic foot muscles decrease the MLA height during standing and gait using 3D motion analysis system. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty healthy male subjects participated in this study.