Foot posture, foot function and low back pain: the Framingham Foot Study
Hylton B Menz1, Alyssa B Dufour, Jody L Riskowski
1Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew Senior Life, 1200 Centre Street, Boston, MA 02131, USA. hannan@hsl.harvard.edu.
Rheumatology (Oxford, England)
|September 20, 2013
Summary
Pronated foot function, not posture, is linked to low back pain in women. This suggests interventions targeting foot function may help manage back pain.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Musculoskeletal Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Abnormal foot posture and function are potential risk factors for low back pain (LBP).
- Previous research has not extensively examined these associations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between foot posture, foot function, and LBP.
- To analyze data from 1930 members of the Framingham Study (2002-05).
Main Methods:
- Foot posture assessed via arch index (normal, planus, cavus).
- Foot function evaluated using center of pressure excursion index (normal, pronated, supinated).
- Sex-specific logistic regression models adjusted for confounders.
Main Results:
- No significant association found between foot posture and LBP.
- Pronated foot function was associated with LBP in women (OR=1.51).
- This association remained significant after adjusting for covariates (OR=1.48).
Conclusions:
- Pronated foot function may contribute to low back symptoms in women.
- Interventions modifying foot function, like orthoses, could aid LBP prevention and treatment.
