The Relationship Between Extremity Preferences and Medial Longitudinal Arch Collapse and Movements of the Ankle and Hallux

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was investigate the effect of hemisphere preference on medial longitudinal arch collapse level and range of motion of ankle and hallux extension in both lower extremities and to determine whether there was a difference between the lower extremities. Material and Methods: The study was performed on 142 university students (male 77, female 65) aged between 18-27 (20.42 +/- 1.441) years who agreed to participate. Participants completed two questionnaires questioning individual characteristics, and hand and foot preferences. Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of both ankles and extension of both halluces were measured using a universal goniometer, and navicular drop (ND) in both feet using the "navicular drop test." Resists: No statistically significant differences were determined between preferred and non-preferred sides in terms of plantar flexion of the ankle (PFA) and extension of the hallux (EH) (p> 0.05). However, the difference between preferred and non-preferred sides for dorsiflexion of the ankle (DFA) was significant in males and in the entire group. In addition, the difference in ND between preferred and non-preferred sides was also significant. Statistically significant positive and negative correlations were determined between preferred and non-preferred side measurements. Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference between the sides in any of the measurements among females, the differences in DFA values in males and in the entire group, and ND values in the entire group between preferred and non-prefered sides were significant. This suggested that hemisphere lateralization could be influential in the extremities. The data obtained in this study could not explain the extremity preferences. However, they suggested that extremity preference was not based on the functional differences and it did not cause any difference in the function.