title: Comparing the immediate effects of UCBL and modified foot orthoses on postural sway in people with flexible flatfoot.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different types of foot orthoses have been prescribed for patients with flatfoot. Results of several studies have shown that orthoses were able to change balance parameters in people with flatfoot. However, the possible effect of orthosis flexibility on balance has not yet been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the current study was to investigate the immediate effect of a rigid University of California Berkeley Laboratory (UCBL) foot orthosis, a modified foot orthosis, and a normal shoe on the postural sway of people with flexible flatfoot.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 20 young adults with flatfoot (aged 23.5 ± 2.8 years) were invited to participate in this study. The Biodex Stability System was employed to perform standing balance tests under three testing conditions, namely, shoe only, UCBL, and modified foot orthosis. Total, medial-lateral, and anterior-posterior sway were evaluated for each condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study revealed no statistical difference in the medial-lateral and anterior-posterior stability indices between foot orthoses and shoed conditions. The overall stability index with the UCBL foot orthosis, however, was significantly lower than that with the modified foot orthosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The UCBL foot orthosis was able to decrease total sway and improve balance in people with flexible flatfoot.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of previous studies have indicated that foot orthoses were able to affect the balance of people with flatfeet. However, the possible effects of flexible orthoses on balance have not been examined. The results of this study may provide new insight into material selection for those people with balance disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Somaieh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Payehdar
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran hassan_saeedi2@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saeedi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamali
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Abdollah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005413:Flatfoot / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D061826:Foot Orthoses / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Flatfoot; balance; foot orthoses