Functional impairments characterizing mild, moderate, and severe hallux valgus

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Orthopedics
• Gerontology

Background:

• Hallux valgus (HV) is linked to functional disability and increased fall risk.
• Mechanisms underlying functional deficits in HV remain unclear.
• Foot pain is a common comorbidity influencing functional outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate functional performance, muscle strength, and plantar pressures in adults with varying degrees of HV.
• Compare individuals with mild, moderate, and severe HV to healthy controls.
• Assess the impact of foot pain on functional deficits in HV.

Main Methods:

• Sixty adults with HV (mild, moderate, severe) and 30 controls were assessed.
• Measures included hallux strength, walking performance, postural sway, and plantar pressures.
• Multivariate analysis of covariance adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and foot pain.

Main Results:

• Moderate and severe HV showed reduced hallux plantar flexion and abduction strength compared to controls.
• Significant reductions in hallux peak pressure and pressure-time integral were observed in moderate and severe HV.
• Severe HV was associated with increased mediolateral postural sway during single-leg stance.

Conclusions:

• Moderate to severe hallux valgus is associated with diminished hallux strength and altered plantar pressures.
• Mild hallux valgus did not demonstrate significant functional deficits compared to controls.
• Understanding stage-specific functional deficits is crucial for targeted clinical management and research in hallux valgus.