Double Density Foot Orthoses Altered Ground Reaction Force Characteristics and the Lower Limb Muscular Activities in Adults with Pronated Feet During Walking: A Clinical Trial Study

Piri, Ebrahim; Sobhani, Vahid; Jafarnezhadgero, Amir Ali; Shamsoddini, Alireza; Arabzadeh, Ehsan; Alihosseini, Saeid

doi:10.30491/tm.2025.535252.1854

Double Density Foot Orthoses Altered Ground Reaction Force Characteristics and the Lower Limb Muscular Activities in Adults with Pronated Feet During Walking: A Clinical Trial Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ebrahim Piri ¹

Vahid Sobhani ²

Amir Ali Jafarnezhadgero ¹

Alireza Shamsoddini ²

Ehsan Arabzadeh ²

Saeid Alihosseini ³

¹ Department of Sports Biomechanics, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

² Exercise Physiology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

³ Department of Exercise Physiology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

10.30491/tm.2025.535252.1854

Abstract

Introduction: Investigation of ground reaction forces and electromyographic activity can help clinicians examine mechanical changes in the feet of individuals in pronation during rehabilitation.
Method: Twenty adult males with pronated feet and twenty healthy adult males volunteered to participate in this study. A force plate was embedded in the middle of an 18-m walkway to collect ground reaction forces. Muscle activity was recorded using an EMG system. Ground reaction forces and lower limb muscle activities were recorded during walking with and without foot orthoses. A two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used for statistical analysis.
Result: Paired-wise comparison demonstrated lower peak medial ground reaction force, peak anterior and posterior ground reaction forces, peak negative free moment, and time-to-peak of medial ground reaction force during walking with foot orthoses than without them. Results did not show any significant group-by-foot orthoses interactions for ground reaction force components during walking. Significant group-by-time interactions were found for rectus femoris activities. Post-hoc analysis demonstrated lower rectus femoris activity in the healthy group and greater rectus femoris activity during loading phases while walking with foot orthoses compared with without them.
Conclusion: Double-density foot orthoses can effectively alter ground reaction forces and muscle activations in individuals with pronated feet, potentially reducing the risk of injury and improving walking mechanics.

Keywords

Pronated feet

Foot orthoses

Muscle activities

Ground reaction forces

Walking

Subjects