Pathomechanical aspects of paediatric flatfeet

• Applicant: Dr. Britta Krautwurst
• Subject Area: Orthopaedics, Traumatology, Reconstructive Surgery ; Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
• Term: from 2017 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 388534565

Flatfeet are common in children, however most presentations are considered physiological, and therefore do not require treatment. There is currently no accepted guidance to determine when a flatfoot should be considered pathological and therefore, the evaluation and treatment of flatfeet is highly variable. Several studies have described paediatric flatfeet and demonstrated an overall more flattened longitudinal foot arch and an everted hindfoot. These feet are considered flexible, and can therefore correct or tend to correct their alignment during walking and other weight-bearing activities such as the heel raise. However, biomechanical basics such as the characteristics of the musculature in these feet are unknown. Therefore, the calculation of muscle length, velocity, and force of specific muscles, which raise the medial foot arch raise and correct alignment of the hindfoot may give information about muscular behaviour of flatfeet compared to neutral feet. These parameters may be calculated using musculoskeletal modelling and simulation software such as “OpenSim”. The following specific research questions are proposed: 1) Are shortened muscles such as the calf muscle responsible for incomplete correction of hindfoot alignment during weight bearing activities? 2) Is there reduced force produced by the muscles which elevate the medial foot arch and correct hindfoot alignment? 3) Are the length and velocity characteristics of these muscles altered during heel raise and walking in paediatric flatfoot?

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Dr. Julie Stebbins