Effect of Foot Pronation on Gait Stability of Children at Critical Development Stage

Foot pronation can significantly impact the structure and function of children’s entire body, particularly the joints of the lower limbs, which may result in abnormal gait patterns and compromised gait stability. Our study aimed to explore the impact of foot pronation on gait stability during a critical developmental stage of children. We collected gait dynamic parameters from 347 children, aged 7 to 8 years, during natural walking using the Footscan plantar pressure measurement system. Four groups were identified: children with valgus feet (both boys and girls) and children with normal feet (both boys and girls). An independent t-test was employed to analyze differences in gait phase parameters and center of pressure between the valgus and normal groups within the same gender. The results indicate that children with foot pronation tend to have an extended foot flat phase and a reduced forefoot push-off phase, which may lead to a hurried completion of push-off and center of gravity transfer. For boys with foot pronation, there is an increased lateral displacement range of the center of pressure during the forefoot contact phase. Concurrently, there is a decrease in the range and velocity of the center of pressure in the anterior-posterior direction during the initial contact and forefoot push-off phases, which can diminish overall gait stability. Pronation results in an inadequate medial transfer of the center of pressure during both the foot flat and forefoot push-off phases, reducing stability in the medial-lateral direction. Consequently, when designing functional or orthopedic footwear for children with foot pronation, it is essential to enhance shoe stability and safety through tailored structural designs that consider the unique gait stability characteristics of boys and girls during different phases of walking.