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Joint hypermobility and preschool-age flexible flatfoot
Chia-Chun Tsai1, Yu-Chia Chih2, Chia-Lung Shih3
1Department of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Medicine
|August 10, 2022
Summary
This study found no link between flexible flatfoot and joint hypermobility in preschoolers. Objective measurements confirmed no correlation, even with new assessment methods for joint laxity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Biomechanical Analysis
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Flexible flatfoot is common in children, often linked to joint hypermobility.
- Previous studies used subjective methods to define flatfoot and joint hypermobility.
- Objective assessment is needed to clarify the relationship between these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively evaluate the correlation between flexible flatfoot and joint hypermobility in preschool children.
- To compare established and novel methods for assessing joint hypermobility.
- To determine if joint laxity is a predisposing factor for flexible flatfoot in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 291 preschool children (ages 35-88 months).
- Assessed flexible flatfoot using the Staheli Plantar Arch Index (PAI) from footprint mat measurements.
- Evaluated joint hypermobility using the Beighton score and two new tests: thumb-to-forearm and thumb-thrust tests.
Main Results:
- Pearson correlation analysis showed no significant association between PAI and any joint hypermobility measure (Beighton, thumb-to-forearm, thumb-thrust).
- Two-sample t-tests revealed no significant differences in joint hypermobility scores between normal and flatfoot groups.
- The findings remained consistent across all objective measurement methods used.
Conclusions:
- There is no significant correlation between objective measures of flexible flatfoot and joint hypermobility in preschool-aged children.
- Established (Beighton score) and novel (thumb-to-forearm, thumb-thrust tests) methods for assessing joint hypermobility did not reveal a link to flexible flatfoot.
- Generalized joint hypermobility may not be a significant predisposing factor for flexible flatfoot in this age group.
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