CORRELATION BETWEEN PES PLANUS AND TIBIOFEMORAL ANGLE MEASUREMENT IN NORMAL, HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

Background: Pes planus deformity of the feet is primarily an asymptomatic condition that alters the lower limb biomechanics. It is associated with changes in knee alignment among older adults and subjects with osteoar-thritis. No data are available on the correlation between pes planus and knee alignment among young adults. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation exists between the presence of pes planus and tibiofemoral angle measurement in normal, healthy young adults. Methods: Thirty subjects had their flat footedness assessed by using Feiss' line test. The tibiofemoral angle was assessed through a photograph of their lower limbs, and the data from the photograph were processed using the SCODIAC program. Results: No significant differences were found between pes planus and tibiofemoral angle among healthy, young adults. Seven subjects had bilateral structural flat feet, while most of the participants had 1 st degree flat foot. Knee genu varum was observed in most of the participants. Conclusions: Although there was no significant correlation between pes planus and tibiofemoral angle measurement among young healthy adults, the findings of this study agreed with the previous studies that was done on older adults and subjects with knee osteoarthritis in the fact that most of the pes planus feet had genu varum knee alignment.