Effects of the Short-Foot Exercise on Foot Alignment and Muscle Hypertrophy in Flatfoot Individuals: A Meta-Analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 36231295 · doi:10.3390/ijerph191911994
What was done
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examining the effects of the short-foot exercise (SFE) compared to foot orthoses, other active interventions, or inactive controls in flatfoot individuals. Literature published through June 2022 was searched across databases, and mean differences (MD) and standardized mean differences were calculated using random-effects models.
What was found
Six trials involving 201 patients met selection criteria (five had active comparators like shoe insoles or muscle strengthening; one had an inactive control). Compared with controls, the SFE group significantly reduced navicular drop test values (MD: -0.23; 95% CI: -0.45 to -0.02; p = 0.04) and Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) scores (MD: -0.67; 95% CI: -0.98 to -0.36; p < 0.0001). Muscle hypertrophy did not differ significantly between groups (abstract reported no numerical values for this outcome).
Why it matters
Short-foot exercise provides modest improvements in dynamic and static foot alignment parameters over other conservative modalities or no intervention in people with flatfoot.
Limits
The pooled sample size was very small (6 trials, 201 total participants). Comparator treatments varied across studies (insoles, other strengthening exercises, or no intervention). Numerical data and specific assessment methods for muscle hypertrophy were not reported in the abstract, and functional outcomes such as pain or gait were not described.
Cited by
- supports Barefoot single-leg balance drills and towel-scrunch exercises strengthen intrinsic foot muscles and can help restore arch structure in the foot.