title: Toe flexor strength and foot arch height in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the muscle strength and arch height of the foot in the standing position and the relations between these indices and physical performances involving the lower limbs in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 301 elementary school children (third grade: n = 158, age = 8.6 ± 0.5 yr; fifth grade: n = 143, age = 10.6 ± 0.5 yr; means ± SD) participated. The maximal isometric toe flexor strength (TFS) in the standing position was measured using a toe flexor dynamometer. Foot arch height was assessed as the distance between the navicular tuberosity of the foot and the floor in the standing position, and foot arch height relative to the foot length was represented by the foot arch index (FAI). For physical performance involving the lower limbs, 50-m sprint, standing broad jump, repeated side step, and rebound jump were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant correlations between TFS and FAI and between relative TFS (relative TFS = TFS/body mass) and FAI. Relative TFS was significantly correlated with all physical performance tests. No significant correlations among FAI and physical performances were found, except for rebound jump ability in fifth graders. After multiple regression analyses adjusting for gender and body mass, TFS was the only significant correlating factor for all physical performances involving the lower limbs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that TFS was associated with enhancement of some measures of lower limb physical performance in children. These results suggest that foot function should be evaluated with both the muscle strength and arch height of the foot in children.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Sports Education, Hokkaido University of Education, Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, JAPAN; 2Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, JAPAN; 3Future Institute for Sport Sciences, Tokyo, JAPAN; 4Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, THAILAND; 5Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, JAPAN; 6Graduate School of Education, Hokkaido University of Education, Hokkaido, JAPAN; 7Department of Teacher Training, Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo, Hokkaido, JAPAN; and 8Hokkaido University of Science, Hokkaido, JAPAN.
authors.forename: Noriteru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Junichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Tomoyasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishizawa
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Rio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakamichi
authors.forename: Syuzo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuno
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamiie
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shide
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kambayashi
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shinkaiya
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D012737:Sex Factors; D014034:Toes / Q000502:physiology*