A comparative analysis of age-related alterations in foot biomechanics and visual input in pre-adolescent and adolescent children with normal body mass index

Joglekar A, Burande A, Mittal A, Powar S, Burande M

Pdf Page Numbers :- 223-230

Anay Joglekar¹, Amit Burande^2,3, Amit Mittal⁴, Siddhi Powar⁵ and Meeta Burande^3,6*

¹Sanjay Ghadawat International School, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416118, India

²Department of Anatomy, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416005, India

³Surya Hospital, Konda Oal, Laxmipuri, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416002, India

⁴Department of Community Medicine, Graphic era institution of medical sciences, Dehradun, Dhulkot Mafi, Uttarakhand 248008, India

⁵Clinical Research Department, Surya Hospital, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416002, India

⁶Department of Pharmacology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416005, India

*Corresponding author: Dr. Meeta Burande, Professor, Department of Pharmacology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416005, India. Email: burandepublications@gmail.com

Received 10 May 2024; Revised 20 June 2024; Accepted 24 June 2024; Published 29 June 2024

Citation: Joglekar A, Burande A, Mittal A, Powar S, Burande M. A comparative analysis of age-related alterations in foot biomechanics and visual input in pre-adolescent and adolescent children with normal body mass index. J Med Sci Res. 2024; 12(3):223-230. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17727/JMSR.2024/12-42

Copyright: © 2024 Joglekar A et al. Published by KIMS Foundation and Research Center. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Abstract

Background: Foot biomechanics undergo age related changes and visual input may be important for postural stability and stance dynamics. This study aimed to investigate how age-related alterations in foot biomechanics and visual input interact to influence postural stability and stance dynamics in children aged 6 to 19 years.

Materials and methods: Prospective observational study was conducted after getting permission from Institutional Ethics Committee. Informed consent was obtained before collecting data. OHM3000 used for collecting data. Data was collected for bipedal stance test, stabilometry test with eyes open and eyes closed, and dynamic stance test during walking with predefined protocol.

Result: Statistically significant difference in maximum pressure, average pressure, foot area and foot length are exhibited in both feet with higher values in adolescents as compared to pre-adolescents. Maximum lateral deviation was significantly less in adolescent with eyes open toward right feet as compare to preadolescents and the difference was lost with eyes closed. Maximum pressure, average pressure, foot contact area and forefoot maximum pressure in both feet were statistical significance.

Conclusion: Increased maximum pressure, average pressure, foot area and foot length indicating physical growth and higher load-bearing capacities in adolescents. Weight distribution over the forefoot and hindfoot remained consistent across age groups even if significant changes shown in foot size and pressure. Visual input significantly improved postural stability in both groups. Adolescents show better postural stability probably due to foot maturation. During walking, adolescents showed increased maximum and average pressures, especially in forefoot.

Keywords: foot; clinical anatomy; biomechanics; adolescents; children; postural stability; gait; visual input