Relationship Between Hip Abductor Muscle Strength And Flatfoot Deformity Among Undergraduates At Faculty Of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

Abstract

Abstract: Numerous factors and many inter relationships between various anatomical deformities affect flatfoot. The objective of this study was to find the relationship between Arch Index and hip abductor muscle strength in both unilateral and bilateral flatfoot among undergraduates, at the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS), General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). A descriptive crosssectional study was carried out including 510 students, aged between 19 - 40 years. Flat foot students were identified using the Arch index (AI) using modified Harris matt and AUTOCAD software. The hip abductor muscle strength was measured using modified Sphygmomanometer. The results indicated statistically significant relationships between unilateral and bilateral flatfoot with hip abductor muscle strength. A weak negative correlation was noted between left side hip abductor muscle strength and AI among the students with bilateral flatfoot (p=0.04, r= - 0.15) and also between left side hip abductor muscle strength and left side AI in left unilateral flatfoot students (p=0.04, r= -0.32). However, no significant difference was noted between hip abductor muscle strength and the presence of flatfoot.