CORRELATION OF FLATFOOT WITH HAMSTRING MUSCLE TIGHTNESS IN 18- TO 25-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE GOING STUDENTS

Background: Young adults frequently have flatfoot and hamstring discomfort as a result of their sedentary lifestyles and bad posture. Both disorders affect posture and lower limb biomechanics. Examining their relationship can help with musculoskeletal dysfunctions in this population, including early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Objective: In order to facilitate early diagnosis and preventive measures, this study intends to investigate the association between hamstring muscle tightness and flatfoot in college students between the ages of 18 and 25. It will do this by determining the prevalence of flatfoot, assessing hamstring flexibility, and examining the relationship between the two. Methods: 84 randomly chosen Surat college students, ages 18 to 25, participated in a 6-month comparison study. Among the requirements for inclusion were flatfooted, healthy students. The Foot Posture Index (FPI-6), Active Knee Extension test using a goniometer, and the footprint test were used to quantify foot posture and hamstring flexibility. Results: A small but statistically significant positive connection between both sides of hamstring tightness and flat foot posture was seen in 84 young people, indicating that biomechanical interdependence links more pronated feet to less hamstring flexibility. Conclusion: This study discovered a small but significant positive correlation between hamstring tightness and flat foot position, suggesting a biomechanical relationship. Reduced hamstring flexibility was observed in those with more pronated feet, highlighting the significance of foot alignment in musculoskeletal evaluation and treatment methods. Keywords: Foot posture index, Active knee extension test, Flat foot, Hamstring muscle tightness, correlation, young adults, universal goniometer, foot print test