Prevalence of Pes Planus and Pes Cavus among Students of Physical Therapy: A DescriptiveCross-sectional Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the prevalence of two common foot conditions, flat feet (pes
planus) and high-arched feet (pes cavus), among Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students. Foot arches play a
vital role in distributing weight and absorbing shock during activities. Understanding the prevalence of these
conditions in this population can be beneficial for early detection and management.
METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted among DPT students at Green International University.
Data collection involved a two-pronged approach: a self-administered questionnaire gathering information on
demographics and foot health, and a footprint analysis to classify foot arch type (normal, pes planus, pes cavus).
RESULTS: The investigation revealed results which showed that pes cavus (high arches) was significantly more
prevalent (54%) compared to pes planus (flat feet) (26%) and even normal foot arch (20%). Interestingly, females
exhibited a higher prevalence of both pes cavus and pes planus compared to males.
CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that pes cavus might be more common than pes planus in DPT students,
particularly among younger females. This highlights the importance of regular foot screening and early intervention
strategies for DPT students to manage and prevent potential complications associated with these conditions.
KEYWORDS: Pes Planus, Pes Cavus, Foot Arch, Prevalence.
References
Vangara, S.V., Gopichand, P.V., Bedi, M. and Puri, N., 2016. Effect of barefoot walking on foot arch structure in Tribal children. Asian J Med Sci, 7(5), pp.108-16.
Babu, D. and Bordoni, B., 2020. Anatomy, bony pelvis and lower limb, medial longitudinal arch of
the foot.
Maynou, C., Szymanski, C. and Thiounn, A., 2017. The adult cavus foot. EFORT open reviews, 2(5), 221-229.
Qin, B., Wu, S. and Zhang, H., 2022. Evaluation and management of cavus foot in adults: a narrative review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(13), p.36-38.
Grice, J., Willmott, H. and Taylor, H., 2016. Assessment and management of cavus foot deformity. Orthopaedics and Trauma, 30(1), pp.68-74.
Jacobs, A.M., 2021. Pes Cavus Deformity: Anatomic, Functional Considerations, and Surgical Implications. Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, 38(3), pp.291-302.
Zupping, O., 2023. Physiotherapy in Management of Pes Planus: Independent Learning Material for Physiotherapy Students.
Mikulkova, W., Vadasova, B., Lenkova, R., Gajdos, M. and Urbanova, K., 2020. Evaluation of the Foot Arch Shape and Toes Deformities among University Students. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov. Series IX: Sciences of Human Kinetics, pp.229-236.
Shah, D.K. and Khatun, S., 2021. Pes Planus Foot among the First and Second Year Medical Students of a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study. JNMA: Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 59(236), p.327.
M Eluwa, R Omini, T Kpela, T Ekanem, A Akpantah. The Incidence Of Pes Planus Amongst Akwa Ibom State Students In The University Of Calabar. The Internet Journal of Forensic Science. 2008 Volume 3 Number 2. Bulletin of theTransilvaniaUniversity of Braşov Series IX: Sciences of Human Kinetics • Vol. 13(62) No. 1 – 2020https://- doi.org/10.31926/but.shk.2020.13.62.1.30.
Fayiz F. El-Shamy Department of Physical Therapy for Woman Health, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt Anees S.Ghait Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt. Aldijana Muratovic, Ivan Vasiljevic, Danilo Bojanic and Milovan Ljubojevic University of Montenegro, Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, Niksic, Montenegro Sport Mont 14 (2016) 3: 19–20 Original scientific paper UDC 617.586:796-057.875.
Khalid, S. I. Impact Among Body Mass Index, Q-Angle and Flat Foot in Students of University of Lahore. Olanrewaju Ibikunle, P. (2017). Prevalence of pes planus and its associated factors among primary school pupils aged 8-12 years in southeast Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Medical Rehabilitation, 19(1): 22-24.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Healthcare Professions
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This is an open-access journal and all the published articles / items are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. For comments ijhp@giu.edu.pk
