Toe flexor strength and foot arch height in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric sports science
• Biomechanics
• Human movement

Background:

• Foot structure and muscle function are crucial for physical performance in children.
• Understanding the relationship between foot morphology and dynamic lower limb capabilities is essential for development and injury prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between foot muscle strength (toe flexor strength - TFS) and foot arch height (foot arch index - FAI) in standing children.
• To examine how these foot indices correlate with various lower limb physical performance measures.

Main Methods:

• 301 elementary school children (grades 3 and 5) participated.
• Maximal isometric toe flexor strength (TFS) and foot arch index (FAI) were measured.
• Physical performances included 50-m sprint, standing broad jump, repeated side step, and rebound jump.

Main Results:

• Relative TFS (TFS/body mass) significantly correlated with all physical performance tests.
• No significant correlations were found between FAI and most physical performances, except for rebound jump in fifth graders.
• TFS was the sole significant predictor for all lower limb physical performances after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions:

• Toe flexor strength (TFS) is associated with enhanced lower limb physical performance in children.
• The findings suggest that a comprehensive assessment of children's foot function should include both muscle strength and arch height.