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The correlation between selected measurements from footprint and radiograph of flatfoot
Chia-Hsin Chen1, Mao-Hsiung Huang, Tien-Wen Chen
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.
Objectives:
To assess the subarch angle obtained from electronic footprints using a capacitive mat transducer system in children with flatfeet, to evaluate other foot arch indexes, and to compare the results with radiographic measurements.
Design:
A cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Rehabilitation clinic in a municipal hospital.
Participants:
Thirty-two children (age range, 7-13y) diagnosed with flatfeet.
Interventions:
Radiographic measurements and foot shape measurements obtained from feet.
Main Outcome Measures:
Talo-first metatarsal angle, talocalcaneal angle, talo-horizontal angle, and calcaneal angle were obtained from radiographs. Subarch angle, arch indexes, and long plantar angle were all captured and calculated via a capacitive transducer plate.
Results:
Correlations between the subarch angle and the talo-first metatarsal angle, talo-horizontal angle, and arch height were significant, as was the correlation between midfoot arch index and talo-horizontal angle. The forefoot arch index had no significant relationship with radiographic parameters. The talo-horizontal angle and arch height had significant relationships with the long plantar angle.
Conclusions:
Measurement of the subarch angle had significant correlation with the radiographic parameters in children with flatfeet and it was accurately and easily obtained from a capacitive forceplate. Measurement of the subarch angle can be a useful tool in the assessment and diagnosis of flatfoot.