An investigation of the factors affecting flatfoot in children with delayed motor development.
This study investigated the prevalence of flatfoot in children with delayed motor development and the relevant factors affecting it. In total, 121 preschool-aged children aged 3-6 with delayed motor development (male: 81; female: 40) were enrolled in the motor-developmentally delayed children group, and 4 times that number, a total of 484 children (male: 324; female: 160), of gender- and age-matched normal developmental children were used as a control group for further analyses. The age was from 3.0 to 6.9 years old for the participants. The judgment criterion of flatfoot was the Chippaux-Smirak index >62.70%, in footprint measurement. The results showed that the prevalence of flatfoot in children with motor developmental delay was higher than that in normal developmental children, approximately 58.7%, and that it decreased with age from 62.8% of 3-year-olds to 50.0% of 6-year-olds. The results also showed that motor-developmentally delayed children with flatfoot are at about 1.5 times the risk of normal developmental children (odds ratio=1.511, p=0.005). In addition, the prevalence of flatfoot is relatively higher in overweight children with delayed motor development, and that in obese children is even as high as 95.8% (23/24). Children with both excessive joint laxity and delayed development are more likely to suffer from flatfoot. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for clinical workers to deal with foot issues in children with delayed motor development.
School of Physical Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 402, Taiwan; Physical Therapy Room, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 402, Taiwan.
Kun-Chung
KC
Chen
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901, Zhonghua Rd., Yongkang Dist., Tainan 710, Taiwan.
Li-Chen
LC
Tung
Program of Landscape and Recreation, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo, Kuang Rd., Taichung 402, Taiwan.
Chien-Hung
CH
Tung
School of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 402, Taiwan.
Chih-Jung
CJ
Yeh
Department of Physical Therapy, National Cheng Kung University, 1, Ta-Hsueh Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
Jeng-Feng
JF
Yang
School of Physical Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 402, Taiwan; Physical Therapy Room, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 402, Taiwan. Electronic address: chwang@csmu.edu.tw.
Chun-Hou
CH
Wang
D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005413:Flatfoot / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
Developmental delay; Flatfoot; Preschool-aged children