Foot Arch Status and Muscular Strength: Associations with Unilateral Balance and Physical Performance

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Kinesiology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Foot arch status and muscular strength are potential determinants of balance and physical performance.
• Limited research exists on their associations with unilateral balance, walking, and lower limb function in young adults, especially in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations of foot arch status and handgrip strength with unilateral balance, walking performance, and lower limb functional capacity in healthy young Saudi adults.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 104 healthy young adults.
• Assessed foot arch using the sit-to-stand navicular drop test (SSNDT).
• Measured muscular strength via handgrip dynamometry, unilateral balance with the single-leg stance test (SLST), walking with the 10 m walk test (10-MWT), and lower limb function with the 30 s chair stand test (30 s-CST).

Main Results:

• Higher SSNDT scores (indicating greater arch lowering) were associated with shorter SLST duration (poorer balance) for both feet.
• Greater handgrip strength was linked to longer SLST duration (better balance) for the right foot only.
• No significant associations were found between SSNDT or handgrip strength and 10-MWT or 30 s-CST outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Increased functional lowering of the medial longitudinal arch is independently linked to poorer unilateral balance performance.
• Handgrip strength has a limited association with balance.
• Foot arch status appears more critical for balance than for walking or overall lower limb functional capacity.