Incidence of flat foot in high school students

Introduction: Flat foot in children and adolescents, as a consequence of various factors such as hypo kinesis, overweight or hereditary factors, represents a current problem. Aims: The main aim of actual research was to determine the incidence of flat foot in secondary school students. Methods: The sample of subjects consisted of 228 high school students, males and females whose body height was 173,65±9,10 in cm, weight 63,99±11,18 in kg, age 16,64±0,88 years (Mean±St.Dev.). The data for the current research were gathered as part of the scientific project no 179024, supported by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (RS). By using a modern computerized podoscope 'Pedic' (Hungary) with associated software, the following variables of the foot were determined: 1) PesNoL; 2) PesNoR (normal left foot and right foot, respectively) expressed numerically by 0; 3 ) PesPlL; 4) PesPlR (degree of the deformity of the left foot and right foot, respectively) expressed numerically by 1, 2, 3 or 4. In order to process the data, the package 'SPSS version 13' was used, and the given results were presented descriptively, and by the ztest for the differences between two proportions. Results: By careful foot print examination of totally 228 subjects, the presence of flat foot (feet) was determined in 111 subjects (48,7%), vs. 117 subjects (51,3%) with normal feet i.e., no deformity. By the usage of z-test for the differences between two proportions, it was checked whether the percentage of subjects with normal feet was significantly higher than the percentage of subjects with any degree of deformity. Significance of the z-test (sig=0,523), showed there was no significant difference in percentage of subjects with normal and flat feet. Conclusion: The results of the actual research regarding the incidence in flat feet could be described as very unsatisfactory. Causes of high incidence could be various: obesity, genu valgum, femoral and tibial torsional abnormalities, ligament laxity, footwear influence, and as like. Determined problem, physiological flat feet can be reconstituted by certain exercises (e.g. by extension of the great toe or by standing on the tiptoes).