Relationship between foot morphology and toe muscle strength in female university students

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose was to clarify the relationship between foot morphology and toe muscle strength in female university students. [Participants and Methods] Data from 103 female university students (age, 20.4 ± 1.6 years) on height, body weight, pain in the foot and toes, heel height (cm) of shoes worn in everyday life, and the number of times (per week) shoes with heels ≥3 cm were worn were collected. The hallux valgus angle and medial longitudinal arch height ratio of the foot were measured, and toe muscle strength was evaluated according to the strength of the toe flexor and abductor hallucis muscles. [Results] Arch height ratio was significantly lower with hallux valgus angle ≥16°. In the 206 feet, a very weak negative correlation was found between hallux valgus angle and arch height ratio. In 150 feet with hallux valgus angle <16°, a very weak correlation was found between toe flexor strength and arch height ratio. [Conclusion] Body mass index was within the normal range, and the period of wearing high-heeled shoes was short; these factors have no effect on hallux valgus angle. Hallux valgus may be prevented by increasing toe flexor strength to prevent downward movement of the navicular and first cuneiform bones.

Effect of a Foot Arch Exercise Program for High School Runners

“…The toe gripping force of the SFE group increased significantly at the time of the M3. It was reported that strengthening the toe flexor muscle group resulted in decreased ND, and as a result was effective in preventing hallux valgus (Yokozuka, Okazaki, Sakamoto & Takahashi, 2019). In this study, toe gripping force in the SFE group increased during the period when SFE was not performed, resulting in increased ND and increased pain.…”

Foot Characteristics and Falls among Community-dwelling Independent Elderly Women Who Can Walk Outdoors

“…This was the same as the result of a study that included only young women. 23) The superficial tendon fibers extend to the medial and plantar sides of the base of the proximal phalanx; therefore, the abductor hallucis muscle performs not only abduction but also plantar flexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. 24) Moreover, the motor-unit potential amplitude of flexion of the abductor hallucis with hallux valgus was higher than that during abduction.…”

“…In young women, a very slight correlation between toe flexor strength and arch height ratio was recognized, and it is believed that improvement of the toe flexor strength can help prevent medial longitudinal arch decrease. 23,29) However, it was also reported that toe flexor strength is affected by foot flexibility, arch height ratio, and body weight. 30) Based on these findings, it is presumed that elderly people who have reduced medial longitudinal and lateral arches, hallux valgus, and decreased mobility of the sole have difficulty exerting force.…”

Relationships between Foot Morphology and Foot Muscle Strength in Healthy Adults

“…Different foot types existed, and they affected obvious motor performance in adults, but may not in children [35]. However, several studies also reported that arch height ratio is weakly or even not correlated with toe flexor strength [19,36]. These results differ because the other studies did not consider body position.…”

“…The relationship between toe deformation and decreased toe flexor strength has been demonstrated by Mickle et al [13]. Toe flexor strength is also positively correlated with arch height [11,19]. Hence, assessing foot muscle function by measuring foot morphological characteristics, including foot length, foot width, truncated foot length, and navicular height, etc., can result in better understanding of the in-depth relationships between foot muscle strength and foot morphological characteristics and can provide references for athlete selection.…”