EFFECTIVENESS OF ARCH STRENGTHENING EXERCISES Joy Teo Nicole Ho - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARCH HEIGHT AND STRENGTH AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ARCH STRENGTHENING EXERCISES

Joy Teo Nicole Ho Rachel Chan

Overview

• Background
• Aim
• Hypotheses
• Method
• Data
• Discussion
• Conclusion

Background

• Arches of feet are important for:

– Stability – Flexibility – Shock absorption – Weight distribution – Assisting feet in adapting to surface changes

• Hence weak arches will increase chances
• f injury

Aim of Project

• Determine relationship between arch

height and arch strength

• Come up with an exercise plan as an

intervention

• Measure effectiveness of proposed exercise

plan

Research Question 1

Which type of arch is the strongest?

Hypothesis 1

Low arches are the strongest.

• More surface area

Research Question 2

Is the intervention exercise plan effective?

Hypothesis 2

It is effective.

• Adapted from exercises commonly used by

professional ballet dancers to improve arch strength

Methodology

Foot Arch Ratio

• Measuring arch height and categorizing into

high, medium and low

Grip Test

• Measuring arch strength using spring balance

Intervention

• Month-long intervention with arch

strengthening exercises

Grip Test

• Repeat to measure arch strength improvement

after intervention

Foot Arch Ratio

• Calculated from subjects’ footprints on

graph paper

• 𝐺𝐵𝑆 =

𝐶 𝐵+𝐶+𝐷

High Arch

Medium Arch

Low Arch

Determining Arch Categories

• Average of FAR taken
• Standard Deviation (SD) calculated
• Upper limit = Ave FAR+ 1 SD
• Lower limit= Ave FAR – 1 SD

Results

Type of Arch Low Medium High FAR range >0.343 Between 0.257 and 0.343 <0.257 Percentage of subjects (%) 10.3 76.5 13.2

Low, 10.3% Medium, 76.5% High, 13.2%

Categorization

Grip Test

• Adapted from the Paper Grip Test

commonly used in leprosy patients

Grip Test

• Participants to:

– Sit upright – Feet flat on ground – Legs kept at right angles – Refrain from using toes to hold

Arch Height and Strength

• High arches are stronger

– Varying pressure points of different types of feet

Arch Type Arch Strength (N) Low 23.6 Medium 21.3 High 29.8

Arch Height and Strength

• High arch

– Arch elevation reduces contact area with ground – Plantar pressure increases

Arch Height and Strength

• Low arch

– Even distribution of pressure on foot contact area – Plantar pressure decreases

Arch Height and Strength

• Focus of the Grip Test- Plantar Pressure
• Favors subjects with high arch
• Variety of means to measure Arch

Strength

Intervention

Results

75% 25%

Improvement in Arch Strength Post- intervention Improved Did not Improve

Results

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Low Arch Medium Arch High Arch Percentage Improvment (%)

Percentage Improvement in Arch Strength (Post-Intervention)

Intervention

• Arch strengthening exercises proven

effective

• However some subjects did not improve

– Less than 50% of exercises completed – Foot-related injuries

Limitations

• Paper grip test only measures one aspect
• f “strength”
• Fat feet vs. flat feet
• Limited resources

Conclusion

• Relationship between arch height and

strength not definite

• Research proved

– High arches are stronger – Intervention was effective

• Intervention exercises can be

recommended for use

Recommended extension

• Explore other methods of analysing

strength

– Intrinsic Positive Test – Ultrasonography

Thank you