Foot stabilization through strength training for athletes with flat foot.

Abstract

Objective: to look at the difference of flatfoot development in different gymnastics disciplines: artistic and rhythmic. Design: Between-groups. Setting: National Gymnastics Arena Subjects: twenty healthy subjects appointed to groups by gymnastics disciplines: rhythmic (n=10) and artistic(n=10). Main Outcome Measures: Static postural control was checked on a force plate (Alfa Platforma). Calcaneal-tibial angle as determined by calf and hell lines and Clarke angle as a measure of the medial longitudinal arch. Results: The artistic gymnasts showed significantly greater medial longitudinal angulation than the rhythmic group athletes. Conclusions: The rhythmic gymnasts exhibit significantly more pronounced flexible flatfoot than artistic gymnasts. The present study focalized on the effects of rhythmic gymnastics as a contributor to abnormal foot and ankle anatomy.