Differences in static- and dynamic-balance task performance after 4 weeks of intrinsic-foot-muscle training: the short-foot exercise versus the towel-curl exercise.
BACKGROUND
Proper functioning of the intrinsic foot musculature (IFM) is essential in maintaining the integrity of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA). Improper functioning of the IFM leads to excessive pronation of the foot, which has been linked to various pathologies. Therefore, training the IFM to avoid excessive pronation may help prevent some of these pathologies; however, it is not clear how to train these muscles optimally.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of 2 different types of IFM training on the height of the MLA and static- and dynamic-balance task performance.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial, repeated-measures mixed-model design.


METHODS
University biomechanics laboratory for testing and a home-based training program.


METHODS
24 healthy, university-age volunteers (3 groups of 8) with no history of major lower limb pathology or balance impairment.


METHODS
One experimental group performed 4 wk of the short-foot exercise (SFE) and the other performed 4 wk of the towel-curl exercise (TCE). Participants were asked to perform 100 repetitions of their exercise per day.


METHODS
Navicular height during weight bearing, the total range of movement of the center of pressure (COP) in the mediolateral (ML) direction for a static-balance test and a dynamic-balance test.


RESULTS
There were no differences in the navicular height or static-balance tests. For the dynamic-balance test, all groups decreased the ML COP movement on the dominant limb by a small amount (~5 mm); however, the SFE group was able to decrease COP movement much more than the TCE group in the nondominant limb.


CONCLUSIONS
The SFE appeared to train the IFM more effectively than the TCE; however, there were differing results between the dominant and nondominant legs. These imbalances need to be taken into consideration by clinicians.
Dept of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, USA.
Scott K
SK
Lynn
Ricardo A
RA
Padilla
Kavin K W
KK
Tsang
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011403:Pronation / Q000502:physiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult