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An investigation of the factors affecting flatfoot in children with delayed motor development
Kun-Chung Chen1, Li-Chen Tung2, Chien-Hung Tung3
1School of Physical Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 402, Taiwan; Physical Therapy Room, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 402, Taiwan.
Insights
Children with delayed motor development have a higher prevalence of flatfoot, with obesity and joint laxity increasing the risk. This finding aids clinicians in addressing foot issues in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Delayed motor development in children is a significant concern.
- The association between motor development and foot structure, specifically flatfoot, requires further investigation.
- Understanding risk factors for flatfoot in this population is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of flatfoot in preschool-aged children with delayed motor development.
- To identify factors associated with flatfoot in this group.
- To compare flatfoot prevalence between children with and without motor developmental delays.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study comparing 121 children with delayed motor development (ages 3-6) to 484 age- and gender-matched controls.
- Flatfoot was diagnosed using the Chippaux-Smirak index (>62.70%).
- Prevalence and risk factors including age, weight status (overweight, obese), and joint laxity were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of flatfoot was significantly higher in children with motor developmental delay (58.7%) compared to controls.
- Flatfoot prevalence decreased with age in the delayed motor development group.
- Risk factors for flatfoot included being overweight (95.8% in obese children) and excessive joint laxity.
Conclusions:
- Children with delayed motor development exhibit a higher incidence of flatfoot.
- Obesity and joint laxity are significant contributing factors to flatfoot in motor-developmentally delayed children.
- These findings provide valuable insights for clinical management of foot problems in children with developmental delays.
Abstract:
This study investigated the prevalence of flatfoot in children with delayed motor development and the relevant factors affecting it. In total, 121 preschool-aged children aged 3-6 with delayed motor development (male: 81; female: 40) were enrolled in the motor-developmentally delayed children group, and 4 times that number, a total of 484 children (male: 324; female: 160), of gender- and age-matched normal developmental children were used as a control group for further analyses. The age was from 3.0 to 6.9 years old for the participants. The judgment criterion of flatfoot was the Chippaux-Smirak index >62.70%, in footprint measurement. The results showed that the prevalence of flatfoot in children with motor developmental delay was higher than that in normal developmental children, approximately 58.7%, and that it decreased with age from 62.8% of 3-year-olds to 50.0% of 6-year-olds. The results also showed that motor-developmentally delayed children with flatfoot are at about 1.5 times the risk of normal developmental children (odds ratio=1.511, p=0.005). In addition, the prevalence of flatfoot is relatively higher in overweight children with delayed motor development, and that in obese children is even as high as 95.8% (23/24). Children with both excessive joint laxity and delayed development are more likely to suffer from flatfoot. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for clinical workers to deal with foot issues in children with delayed motor development.
