title: The effect of 6 weeks of custom-molded foot orthosis intervention on postural stability in participants with >or=7 degrees of forefoot varus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postural stability (PS) was assessed in a group of participants with >or=7 degrees of forefoot varus (FV) after 6 weeks of custom-molded functional foot orthosis (FO) intervention to investigate the effect of FO intervention in a population that may have decreased PS due to their foot structure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A force platform was used to assess right and left single-limb stance position and eyes open and eyes closed condition PS.
  
  
  METHODS
  PS was assessed in a biomechanics research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve participants with >or=7 degrees of FV (MFV) and 5 participants with <7 degrees of FV (LFV) participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  PS of the MFV group was assessed initially when FOs were received and after 6 weeks of FO intervention. The LFV group PS was assessed during initial and 6-week testing sessions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The root mean square of the center of pressure velocity was used to quantify single-limb stance PS during no FO and FO conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LFV group PS did not change significantly (P=0.829) over the 6-week time period. Significant improvement was, however, reported in the MFV group anteroposterior (P=0.003) and mediolateral (P=0.032) PS at the 6-week assessment versus the initial assessment during both the noFO and FO conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Six weeks of FO intervention may significantly improve PS in participants with >or=7 degrees of FV both when wearing FOs and when not wearing FOs.
authors.affiliation: Center for Rehabilitation Research and Master of Athletic Training Program, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430-6226, USA. steve.cobb@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cobb
authors.forename: Laurie L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Tis
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005530:Foot Deformities / Q000628:therapy*; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors