Romanian Journal of Physical Therapy (Dec 2020)
POSTURAL CHANGES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH FOOT ABNORMALITIES – A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Abstract
Postural faults in children and adolescents represent one of the most popular yet underestimated health problems because of the subsequent complications they may produce. One of the causes that can contribute to the young organism's posture disorders are the alterations in the foot's structure and functionality, which are more and more frequently discovered. This study aimed to investigate the postural changes induced by foot deformities and/or dysfunctions in children and adolescents. The methodology involved a systematic search using Clarivate Analytics, PubMed, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar databases in order to obtain information regarding the postural changes associated with foot abnormalities; 188 articles were found after we applied the inclusion criteria, but finally, only 17 were relevant to our research. The analysis of these showed that: there is evidence for poor postural stability in the pronated and supinated foot, foot deformities are a risk factor for injuries of the lower extremity due induced postural changes, foot position can influence the pelvic alignment in children (especially, an increased anteversion of the pelvis on those with hyper pronated foot), can produce trunk asymmetries, and also can change the gait kinematics and create an excessive load on various joints of the spine and lower limb. In conclusion, is confirmed the idea that even a minor alteration in foot structure and/or functionality is followed by poor postural habits based on feedback and other advanced control mechanisms. These changes could lead to more complicated health issues.
