RELATIONSHIP OF PLANTAR ARCH INDEX WITH POSTURAL BALANCE IN WOMEN OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

The human foot is a very complex structure formed by numerous muscles, bones, ligaments and joints. This structure is divided into three regions: forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot, and three foot arches, which have an elastic system absorbing mechanical shocks. Some authors observed that the lowering of the foot MLA causes a smaller excursion of center of pressure (COP) in conditions of postural balance manipulation, suggesting that the contact area of the foot may influence on the functional balance. The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between plantar arch index and postural balance in women of different age groups. It included 60 women, 20 in the young group (YG), 20 in the adult group (AG) and 20 in the elderly group (EG). Printing plant with plantar foot pressure method was used in order to obtain the plantar arch index (PAI). For postural balance data an AMTI force plate model OR6-6 was used. Variables obtained from the center of pressure were: range of anteroposterior displacement of COP (COPap), range of medial-lateral displacement of COP (COPml), average velocity of displacement of COP (COPvel), and ellipse area (ellipse). The results showed no correlations between the variables of COP (COPap, COPml, velocity and ellipse) and PAI in eyes opened and eyes closed conditions. It was concluded that the plantar arch index did not alter postural control in women of this study, because there were no statistically significant correlations between variables of postural balance and the plantar arch index. We would suggest the development of new studies including assessment of dynamic balance and gait.