Results of foot assessment in healthy preschool children: visual assessment, FPI-6, dorsiflexion: a population study

BACKGROUND: The reason for conducting this study was the lack of Russian literature on the relationship between visual foot assessment using the Foot Posture Index (FPI)-6 and foot dorsiflexion in preschool children. AIM: The aim was to evaluate the relationship between visual foot assessment, FPI-6 and dorsiflexion in healthy preschool children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 81 children aged 5–7 years (162 feet). All children were examined using visual foot assessment, FPI-6, assessment of passive dorsiflexion, Beighton hypermobility score, and anthropometric measurements (height/weight). Dorsiflexion was assessed with posterior segment stabilization and the knee joint in flexion and extension. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to assess the normality of the data distribution, followed by the use of parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of three groups. The Pearson’s test was used to assess correlations. RESULTS: Flat feet was diagnosed in 41.0% of children. There were 2 times more boys than girls in the group with flat feet and 1.5 times more girls in the group without flat feet. The FPI-6 scores of the same feet were at least 8 in children with flat feet and 0 to 4 in children without flat feet. Moderate to medium correlations were found between the clinical diagnosis of flat feet and FPI-6 scores. In 95% of the children aged 5–7 years, dorsiflexion with the knee joint in extension was 11.4°–34.2°. Mean dorsiflexion difference between flexed and extended knees was 24.1° ± 9.5°. ANOVA showed no significant difference in dorsiflexion between children with and without flat feet. CONCLUSIONS: The mean dorsiflexion in preschool children was 22.8° ± 5.7°. No reliable difference in dorsiflexion between children with and without flat feet was demonstrated. Gastrocnemius muscle retraction was evaluated quantitatively.