Popular pediatric flexible flatfoot indicators among 5-8 years old children: which are the best?

Abstract

Aim of the Study: The foot posture is age-related. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the 6-item version of the foot posture index (FPI-6) and other clinical, foot X-ray measurements for the foot posture in 5–8-year-old children. Methods: 301 participants were accepted in the research with normal foot and flexible flatfoot. Clinical and X-ray measurements as the indexes - FPI-6, Chippaux–Smirak (CS), Staheli (S); navicular drop test (NT), angles - resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP), calcaneal pitch (CP), talocalcaneal (TC), and the 1-st. lateral metatarsal (TA). Beighton scale was also included. Main results: Statistical analysis showed a significant FPI-6 score correlation with other parameters (S, CS, RCSP, NT, CP, TM, and TA showed strong and moderate correlations, p < 0.001). Overall, the strongest associates are CS (β = 0.34) and NT (β = 0.28). Other indicators have relatively small relationships with the FPI-6. Conclusions: A positive correlation was observed between FPI-6 and NT, CS in 5–8-year-old children. All three foot posture measurements (FPI-6, NT, and CS) might be used as primary or preferred indicators in clinical practice.