Efficacy of plantar short foot muscle exercise among middle distance runners: A single blind randomized controlled, pilot study

Publication date: Available online 27 June 2018
Source:Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Author(s): Selvaraj Sudhakar, S. Veena Kirthika, K. Padmanabhan, S. Ramachandran, C.V. Senthil Nathan, G. Mohan Kumar, J. Vasantha Kumari, V. Anuradha, Asir John Samuel
BackgroundPlantar intrinsic foot muscles plays a crucial role in supporting medial longitudinal arch providing foot stability and flexibility for shock absorption. Researchers have assessed the changes in foot posture after a middle distance run. But, there is a lack of study examining effects of plantar short foot muscles exercise on middle distance runners.ObjectiveTo compare the effects of two kinds of plantar short foot muscle exercise, in foot posture and fundamental movement pattern in middle distance runnersMaterials and methodsA total of 30 middle distance runners were recruited by the simple random sampling (lottery method) to participate in this two group pretest-posttest, double blinded randomized clinical study. Recruited subjects were randomly divided into two groups, VFR group and PSF group. The subjects in VFR group received, Vele's forward lean and walking backwards as a part of reverse tandem gait (RTG) exercises. While in PSF group, the subjects received plantar short foot exercises consist of shortening and balance loading. Both the group performed the prescribed exercised for 15 minutes x 2 times/day x 5days/week x 4 weeks. Baseline and post exercise changes after 4 weeks were documented by foot posture index (FPI) and fundamental movement screen (FMS) and analyzed.ResultsPSF group demonstrated significance improvement (p<0.05) in FPI and FMS when compared to VFR group.ConclusionPSF (Plantar Short Foot) exercises are more beneficial in improving foot alignment and quality of movement when compared to VFL-RTG (Vele's Forward Lean and Reverse Tandem Gait) exercises among the middle distance runners.



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