International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research, Int J Physiother Res 2017, Vol 5(6):2477-81. ISSN 2321-1822 Original Research Article DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijpr.2017.232 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLATFOOT AND Q ANGLE IN MALE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT Mohamed N. AlKhouli *1, Anees S. Ghait 2, Amr A.Abogazya 3. *1 Department of Growth& Development disorders and its Surgery in Pediatric, Delta University for Science and Technology, Egypt. 2Department of Biomechanics, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt. 3 Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt. ABSTRACT Background: A high percentage of young children present with flatfeet. Flat foot in children and adolescents, as a consequence of various factors such as hypo kinesis, obesity or hereditary factors, represents a current problem. The purpose of this study was to determine relationship between flatfoot and Q Angle in male secondary school students from standing position. Subjects and Methods: Forty participants were included in this study divided into two groups, group A (20 normal healthy male secondary school students) while group B (20 male secondary school students are suffer- ing from flat foot ); (age range 16-18 years, weight 71.5 ± 14.4 kg, height 171.5 ± 6.1 cm, were selected randomly. Results: Results indicated that there was statistically significant increase in participant’s quadriceps-angle of the right or left knees (P< 0.05) in group B (male secondary school students are suffering from flat foot) during standing position. Conclusion: There were no statistically significant changes in the participant’s quadriceps-angle between the right and left knees (P>0.05) either in group B (male secondary school students suffering from flat foot) or in group A (normal healthy male secondary school students). With regard to this study results, we concluded that, flat foot deformity may resulted in increasing the value of Q angle. KEY WORDS: Q Angle, Flat foot deformity, Secondary school students, Standing position, Radiography. Address for correspondence: Dr. Mohamed N. AlKhouli, Department of Growth& Development disorders and its Surgery in Pediatric, Delta University for Science and Technology, Egypt. E-Mail: [email protected] Access this Article online Quick Response code International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research ISSN 2321- 1822 www.ijmhr.org/ijpr.html Received: 08-09-2017 Accepted: 09-10-2017 Peer Review: 09-09-2017 Published (O): 11-11-2017 DOI: 10.16965/ijpr.2017.232 Revised: None Published (P): 11-12-2017 INTRODUCTION energy-storing mechanisms [2,3]. Feet, as the body’s base of support, continually Muscles of the foot provide secondary support exposed to high ground reaction forces which by maintaining the arch during dynamic tasks generated during activities of daily living. The [1]. longitudinal arch of the foot is responsible for Flatfeet are often a complex disorder, with absorbing and dissipating these forces [1]. diverse symptoms and varying degrees of The ligaments that support and stabilize the deformity and disability. There are several types longitudinal arch of the foot act as powerful of flatfoot, all of which have one characteristic Int J Physiother Res 2017;5(6):2477-81. ISSN 2321-1822 2477 Mohamed N. AlKhouli, Anees S. Ghait, Amr A.Abogazya. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLATFOOT AND Q ANGLE IN MALE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. in common—partial or total loss of the arch [2, divided into two groups, group A (20 normal 4]. Flat feet in children are normal when they healthy male secondary school students) while first begin to stand because as they try to keep group B (20 male secondary school students are balance and grip with the feet for support, they suffering from flat foot ); (age range 16-18 years, tend to spread apart in a wide stance and the weight 71.5 ± 14.4 kg, height 171.5 ± 6.1 cm, soles turn outward [5,6]. were selected randomly. Many different factors can contribute to the The participants in the present study were se- development of flat feet. These include over- lected from a population of secondary school weight, the types of shoes a child wears, a child’s students in Tanta and Mansoura cities. sitting or sleeping positions, compensation for All subjects participated voluntarily after being other abnormalities further up the leg, or more informed about the purpose of the study and severe factors such as rupture of ligaments or having signed a written informed consent. Prior tendons in the foot [4]. to selection, each individual underwent a thor- Repeated excessive loading may stretch liga- ough clinical assessment and was questioned ments beyond their elastic limit, damaging soft about past medical history. tissues and increasing the risk of foot discom- Subjects with postural deviations, such as leg fort and subsequent development of foot length discrepancy, knee joint osteoarthritis, pathologies [1]. recurvatum knees, ankle joint deformities, Excessive foot pronation which occurs in flat foot muscle shortening, kyphosis and/or scoliosis, deformity is characterized by flattening of past surgery, injury of the lower limbs or medial arch and hypermobile midfoot but may patellofemoral pain syndrome , thyroid dysfunc- also place greater demands on neuromuscular tion or rheumatic conditions, obesity , dominant system to stabilize the foot and maintain left leg, patellar luxation or subluxation, clini- upright stance. cal evidence of meniscal injury, ligamentous in- Poor foot position sense is thought to hinder stability, patellar tendinitis, lower back pain, accommodation between the plantar surface of sciatica, other condition that may interfere with the foot and the support surface, thus requiring the data collection were excluded from the ex- postural adjustments more proximally to main- perimental procedure. tain upright posture and balance [10, 11]. The participants were positioned standing with Although investigators found static and dynamic barefoot, their knees in total extension and each balance to be adversely affected by changes in patient were asked to keep her lower limbs in a peripheral input secondary to joint injury and relaxing status and no trunk - forward or poste- changes in the stability of the surface on which rior swing was permitted. one is standing, far less attention has been The participants were urged to maintain a fixed focused on whether more subtle alterations in posture during every test procedure to maintain the surface, stability, or peripheral input of the consistent measurements. support foot may also affect balance in those Afterwards, the same technician took radio- with different foot types [7, 9]. graphs (A 500 mm A G3 Model, Macrotec®) in The deleterious effect of flat foot on the anteroposterior positioning using radiological 35 mechanics of human body results from the mani- x 91 cm film, comprising a portion of the hip 15 festation of abnormal foot mechanics which cm below the previously market TAT using a lead include abnormal foot pronation and diminished film (4 cm2) fixed on the skin with adhesive tape, foot arches (7). in order to facilitate the visualization of the TAT Therefore, this study aims to compare Q-angle after revealing the film (a Kodak® film). between normal and flat foot deformity in The Q angle is formed by the crossing of two secondary school students. imaginary lines: the first line is formed by the SUBJECTS AND METHODS anterosuperior iliac spine (ASIS) to the midpoint of the patella, and the second line is formed by Forty participants were included in this study the tibial tuberosity to the midpoint of patella Int J Physiother Res 2017;5(6):2477-81. ISSN 2321-1822 2478 Mohamed N. AlKhouli, Anees S. Ghait, Amr A.Abogazya. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLATFOOT AND Q ANGLE IN MALE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. [12]. The Q angle was traced and measured for from flat foot). the right and left knee by the same researcher Left Knee: There was statistically significant using a conventional rule, a pen, and protractor increase in participant’s Q-angle (P=0.05), as the to prevent study error (Figure 1). mean value of Q-angle was 17.03º± 0.4 group A (normal healthy male secondary school stu- dents), while it was 22.4º ± 1.5 at group B (male secondary school students are suffering from flat foot) (Table I). There were no statistically significant differ- ences in the participant’s quadriceps-angle between the right and left knee (P>0.05) at group A (normal healthy male secondary school Fig. 1: The Q– angle. students). There were no statistically significant differ- ences in the participant’s quadriceps-angle between the right and left knee (P>0.05) at group B (male secondary school students are suffer- ing from flat foot). Table 1: Mean ± SD values of Q angle for participants (normal healthy male secondary school students versus students are suffering from flat foot). The design of this study was a case control study. Right Knee Left Knee Statistical analysis involved the calculation of Mean ± SD P.value Significance Mean ±SD P.Value Significance Normal healthy male the means and standard deviations for each of 16.14º ±1.2 0.05 S17.03º ±0.4 0.05 S students the variables measured. Differences between the Students suffering 20.6º ±1.2 - - 22.4º ±1.5 - - values of the Q angle between the participants from flat foot were assessed using the student-t test. A P-value The feet are considered as an important part of of < 0.05 was taken to represent statistical sig- our body. It supports not only the whole body nificance. Data analysis was performed using weight but also bears several times of body SPSS software version 16. weight when we are running or splitting [19]. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Flat foot is one of the most common foot defor- mities in children that may lead to foot or ankle All data had been collected and statistically pain during walking.