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European Journal of Pediatrics
Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics 5/2009

01-05-2009 | Original Paper

Assessment of the medial longitudinal arch in children and adolescents with obesity: footprints and radiographic study

Authors: M. Adoración Villarroya, J. Manuel Esquivel, Concepción Tomás, Luis A. Moreno, Ana Buenafé, Gloria Bueno

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 5/2009

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate foot arch types of obese children and adolescents aged 9–16.5 years using both indirect and direct measures. Fifty-eight obese children/adolescents attending the paediatric endocrinology unit of the University Hospital “Lozano Blesa” in Zaragoza were selected as experimental subjects. Fifty-eight gender and age matched, normal-weight children/adolescents were selected as control subjects. To assess the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) height, which is used as a main reference for the diagnosis of flatfoot, footprints from both feet were collected (in both groups) and lateral weight-bearing radiographs of both feet were taken (of 49 of the 58 obese children). Footprint angle (FA) and the Chippaux-Smirak index (CSI) were calculated from the footprints. Talus-first metatarsal (TFMA) and calcaneal inclination angles (CIA) were obtained from lateral feet radiographs. In the normal-weight group, mean values of FA and CSI indicated a normal MLA. In the obese group, morphological flatfoot was identified. Comparison between both groups, by side and gender, showed a decrease of FA (p < 0.001) and an increase of CSI (p <0.001) in obese subjects. Mean values of TFMA and CIA in the obese group indicated a lowering of the MLA. Obese children/adolescents between 9 and 16.5 years of age had significantly lower values of FA and higher CSI, related to a lower MLA. Radiographic parameters supported these findings and mean values were associated with a fall of this arch.
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Metadata
Title
Assessment of the medial longitudinal arch in children and adolescents with obesity: footprints and radiographic study
Authors
M. Adoración Villarroya
J. Manuel Esquivel
Concepción Tomás
Luis A. Moreno
Ana Buenafé
Gloria Bueno
Publication date
01-05-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 5/2009
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-008-0789-8

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