Influence of foot posture on pelvic inclination in collegiate track and field athletes: An observational study

Background Track and field athletes engage in high-impact sports and their feet are subjected to a significant amount of force during jumping and sprinting; thus, there have been a greater number of foot posture deviations seen in these athletes. These forces have been revealed to contribute to musculoskeletal alterations and lower extremity malalignment up to the pelvis, which consequently causes uneven strains on the joints, inefficient muscle function, and impaired lower limb proprioception in the kinetic chain. Objective To find the influence of foot posture on pelvic inclination in collegiate track and field athletes using Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) and smartphone inclinometer. Furthermore, the study also aimed to compare the foot posture types among track and field athletes. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 56 track and field athletes within the age group 18–25 years from various colleges in Belagavi city. They were assessed using Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) to determine foot posture type, and smartphone inclinometer to determine the pelvic inclination. Results The results revealed a strong positive correlation between foot posture and pelvic inclination of the left side (r = 0.62) and right side (r = 0.70). Furthermore, higher FPI scores have been significantly correlated with higher degrees of pelvic inclination in these athletes. Conclusion The study concluded that there is an influence of foot posture on pelvic inclination in collegiate track and field athletes. Additionally, our study suggested that pronated feet have been associated with a higher pelvic inclination angle due to the existence of the kinetic chain.