title: Foot morphology and foot/ankle injury in indoor football.
abstract: While the pronated foot is implicated as a risk factor for sports injury in some studies, others suggest that a supinated foot posture increases the risk of overuse lower limb injuries. Athletes in a given sports discipline may tend to have a similar foot morphology, which varies from that observed elsewhere. Further, the foot morphology that is beneficial for performance in a sport may be detrimental with regard to injury. Intra- and inter-rater reliability of the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) as a measure of foot morphology was determined (ICC (2,1) 0.88 and 0.69 respectively). Thereafter, in a prospective cohort study using the FPI-6, 76 adolescent male indoor football (Futsal) players were measured and followed monthly over one competition season. Coach-rated ability and reports of any overuse injuries at the ankle and/or foot over this period were obtained. A significant negative linear relationship was found between the mean FPI-6 scores and coach-rated ability (p=0.008), with supinated and under-pronated postures related to higher ability level. Overall, 33% of injuries at the ankle and/or foot were classified as overuse. Foot Posture Index scores of less than 2, indicating the supinated and under-pronated feet, were found to be associated with a significant increase in the risk of overuse injury (p=0.008). The greater rigidity of these foot types may assist adolescent, male, indoor football players to perform at a higher level in their sport. Unfortunately, these players are also more likely to sustain ankle and/or foot overuse injuries.
authors.affiliation: Hawkesbury Physiotherapy, 89 The Terrace, Windsor, Sydney, NSW 2756, Australia. lauren.cain@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Leslie L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Roger D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011403:Pronation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*; D013484:Supination