The association between static foot posture and pressure pain threshold of the lower leg and foot in adult male sporting participants

Background and aims: Static foot posture may be associated as a possible risk factor for specific lower limb sporting injuries, although further high quality evidence is required. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) is yet to be used to establish a link between foot posture and musculoskeletal overuse injury in the lower leg and foot. The aims of this study were to determine if there is a relationship between foot posture and PPT of the lower leg and foot. Methods: A bivariate correlation design was used. Nineteen asymptomatic male sporting participants (mean age 22 ± 3.8) from the University of the West of England, with no lower limb injury in the previous six months were recruited. Outcome measures were static foot posture (pronation, supination or neutral) measured using the foot posture index (FPI) and PPT with an electronic pressure algometer at five common overuse injury sites in the lower leg and foot. Results: There was no statistically significant (p > 0.05) relationship between FPI and PPT at any of the five potential injury sites, although consistently weak (r ≤ 0.3) negative correlations were indicated. The mean FPI score (+4) found a slightly pronated foot. Conclusion: The results may indicate a weak relationship between a pronated foot and PPT in the lower leg and foot. A larger sample size, focus on a specific condition and a comparison between the pronated, supinated and neutral foot is indicated to determine if static foot posture and associated PPT may be a risk factor for musculoskeletal overuse injury.