Assessment of Foot Pronation and Lower Limb Injuries Among Recreational Runners: A Cross-Sectional Study

Recreational runners may be at risk for lower limb injuries due to foot pronation. Objective: To assess the association between foot pronation and lower limb injuries in recreational runners. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 142 recreational runners (both sexes, aged >18) who ran at least three times weekly. Individuals with walking impairments or undergoing rehabilitation were excluded. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was collected. Post-hoc power analysis confirmed 82% power (α = 0.05, Cohen’s h = 0.3) for chi-square testing. Foot posture was assessed using the Foot Posture Index (FPI), and foot mobility via the Sit-to-Stand Navicular Drop Test (SSNDT). Lower limb function was evaluated using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 28.0. Descriptive statistics summarized participant data. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests assessed injury prevalence across foot posture categories. T-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests compared navicular drop and LEFS scores between injured and non-injured groups. Logistic regression analyzed associations between FPI scores and injury risk, adjusting for BMI and age. Results: Most participants were young adults, with more females. Common injuries involved the groin (52.8%), knee (54.9%), and ankle (ligamentous: 56.3%; non-ligamentous: 49.3%). Pronated feet were found in 38.7% of runners. Mean FPI score was 5.04 ± 3.67; navicular drop was 11.31 ± 3.66 mm. Mean LEFS score was 42.61 ± 20.39. Conclusion: Foot pronation is significantly associated with lower limb injuries. Clinical tools like FPI and SSNDT are effective for identifying at-risk individuals.