Volume 24, Issue 101, January - February, 2020

Prevalence of flat foot in Saudi Arabian primary school children in relation to age, gender, height and obesity: A cross-sectional study

Abdullah M. Al-Shenqiti^1,2, Reda S Eweda^1,3, Hatem A. Emara^1,4, Osama Ahmed Khaled^1,5, Sameh R. Ibrahim^1,5, Mostafa S. Ahmed^1,6, Mona Ibrahim Mohamed⁷, Tarek Mohamed El-gohary^1,8

¹Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University: Prince Naif Street, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah 20012 (Saudi Arabia)
²Centre for Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
³Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt
⁴Department of Physical Therapy for Growth and Developmental Disorders in Children and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt
⁵Basic Science Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt
⁶National heart institute, Giza, Egypt
⁷Physical therapist, Ministry of Health
⁸Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Background: flatfoot is a common problem in school age children, many factors may predispose to the development of flatfoot such as overweight, hypo kinesis, or hereditary factors. It is a common cause of pediatric orthopedic visits. Objectives: this study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of flatfoot in both genders in the population of 6- to 12-year-old schoolchildren, and to examine the relation of age, sex, weight, and height to flat foot. Methods: A total population of 563, in age ranging from 6 year to 12 years in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah city was chosen. Foot posture was assessed by Foot Posture Index. Flat foot clinical diagnosis was determined by heel valgus position, navicular bone position, and medial arch formation on standing position. Results: Flat foot prevalence in male children was 74.74%, while in female children it was 86.54%. The results showed that there is no significant correlation between flat foot and weight (r=-0.051, p=0.223). Also, there was no significant correlation between BMI and flat foot (r=0.003, p=0.592). On the other hand, the results showed that there was significant correlation between age, height and flat foot (r=-0.086, p=0.041), (r—0.094, p=0.026) respectively. Equally, there is significant correlation between sex and flat foot (r=0.132, p=0.002). Conclusion: The flat foot prevalence in Saudi Arabia children is high compared to other countries. This means that children may require closer monitoring. The study demonstrated that medial arch development was associated with age, gender and height.

Keywords: Flat foot, prevalence, Saudi Arabia children.

Medical Science, 2020, 24(101), 235-242

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