Effects of Flossing Band Application on Arch Height and Plantar Pressure in Individuals with Flexible Flat Feet

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a flossing band applied to the foot on the arch height and foot pressure in individuals with flexible flatfoot.Methods: Thirty-two college students with flexible flatfoot were assigned randomly to either a flossing band exercise group (FEG, n= 16) or a self-exercise group (SEG, n= 16).The flossing band was applied to the medial longitudinal arch and calf muscles with 80% tension and 50% overlap, wrapping from distal to proximal.The FEG intervention included three phases: (1) 10 repetitions of active ankle range of motion exercises, (2) 10 repetitions of passive ankle mobilization, and (3) 20 repetitions of toe-raise exercises, with a total duration of three minutes.The arch height was measured using the navicular drop test, which calculates the difference in navicular height between the sitting and standing positions.The foot pressure was assessed using an Alfoot 2-D scanner while subjects maintained a standing position for 10 seconds.Pre-and post-intervention measurements were conducted for both groups.The within-group pre-and post-differences were analyzed using paired t-tests, and the between-group differences were analyzed using independent t-tests.Results: The FEG and SEG showed improvements in arch height and foot pressure.On the other hand, the FEG showed significantly greater improvements in arch height and foot pressure than the SEG. Conclusion:The flossing band was effective in increasing the arch height and reducing foot pressure in college students with flexible flatfoot, suggesting it can serve as a targeted intervention to improve foot function in this population.