| dc.description.abstract | Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common type of arthritis in Sri Lanka. Any alterations
of the mechanical alignments in the knee have an impact on the foot structure which
biomechanically linked by a kinematic chain. This study aimed to evaluate the
relationship between foot arch index (FAI) with quadriceps and hamstring muscles
strength in patients with flatfeet deformity and bilateral KOA.An analytical crosssectional
study was conducted under the non-probability sampling method
including 72 patients (aged above 45 years), who were clinically diagnosed with
bilateral KOA and flatfeet deformity, attending the Musculoskeletal Department of
University Hospital, Kotelawala Defence University. An interviewer administrated
form was used to obtain demographic data and a modified sphygmomanometer was
used to measure isometric strength quadriceps and hamstring muscles. Foot arch
index was measured using the Harrismat. Data were statistically analysed using
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, version 22. Significantly
negative correlations (p<0.05) were identified between the FAI with the muscular
strength of ipsilateral and contralateral hamstrings (p=0.04) and contralateral
quadriceps (p=0.01) in the sample of dominant side flat feet deformity (na=64). FAI
did not indicate any significant association with the muscular strength in both
ipsilateral and contralateral quadriceps and hamstring muscles in the sample with
non-dominant side flatfeet deformity(nb=70).Increased foot arch index is a
contributing factor to the reduction of muscle strength in ipsilateral and
contralateral hamstring and contralateral quadriceps in KOA patients with the
presence of flatfeet deformity in the dominant leg. | en_US |
