Proportion of Genu Valgum and Genu Varum in Students Aged 19-25 Years

Background:Knee joint mal alignments are divided into genu valgum and genu varum. The presence of these mal-alignments leads to complications like tibio-femoral osteoarthritis, compensatory changes in ankle/foot, etc.Taking a community of physiotherapy students, the proportion ofgenu varum, genu valgumand its association with body mass index (BMI) and foot posture index (FPI) was investigated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the proportion of genu valgum and genu varum in subjects aged 19 -25 years.Materials and Methods: The data was collected from D.Y. Patil University, Navi Mumbai. A consent form and a validated proforma was used. Age, BMI, FPI, IKD (Inter-knee distance), IMD (Inter-malleolar distance) and Q-angle was recorded, and the data was statistically analysed.Results: 45 out of 100 females had genu valgum which was found to be associated with higher BMI and pronated feet. 9 out of 100 females had genu varum which was found to be associated with lower BMI. Chi-square test was done to find out these associations.Conclusion: Awareness of the proportion of angular mal-alignment in knee would increase the recognition of this problem among the individuals and doctors for better execution of strategies that can help avoid these mal-alignments.

Pulled/nursemaid’s elbow

Nursemaid’s elbow is a radial head subluxation caused by axial traction on the extended arm while the forearm is pronated, allowing for slippage of the radial head. A 2-year-old boy presented with pain, swelling and reduced range of movement of the right elbow for 4 days. The mother noted that the child was moving the right upper limb less often and there was tenderness over the right elbow. X-ray of the right elbow showed subluxation of the elbow joint with no obvious fracture. A trial of conservative management was decided upon and the patient was placed on a right elbow backslab with the right forearm in a supine position. On follow-up, there was no swelling, tenderness or neurological deficit noted. A repeate x-ray revealed normal findings.

Correcting of pronated feet reduce skeletal muscle injury in young women with biomechanical abnormalities / 대한해부학회지

Biomechanical abnormalities of pronated feet accompanied by functional leg length disparity may increase the risk of skeletal muscle injury. Objective of the study is to prove that correction of pronated feet by the foot orthoses will reduce the creatine kinase-MM (CK-MM) concentrations as the muscle injury indicator. The design study was double blind randomized clinical trials with control. Research subjects were divided into two groups, group 1 used the foot orthoses while group 2 did not used the foot orthoses. The whole subject examined the concentrations of the CK-MM enzyme before, and 24–72 hours after the walking test. The walking test was conducted 15 minutes with maximum speed. The concentration of the CK-MM enzyme before walking test on treatment group was 70.07±15.33 International Unit (IU), similar with the control group was 69.85±17.03 IU (P=0.971). The increased in CK-MM enzyme concentrations 45 hours after the walking test was lower in the treatment group (7.8±9 IU) than the control group (22.0±11.5 IU) (P=0.001). The CK-MM enzyme concentrations continued to decline in the treatment group after the second walking test (77.21±17.47 IU), and after the third walking test (69.86±11.88 IU) (P=0.018). The foot orthoses for correcting the pronated feet on the young women with biomechanical abnormalities is able to reduce the degree of the skeletal muscle injury after walking activity.

The Effect of Foot Orthosis on Spinal Curvature by Correction of Foot Pronation and Limb Length Discrepancy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of foot orthosis on spinal curvature, by correction of foot pronation and limb length discrepancy METHOD: 38 cases of foot-pronated children were investigated for changes in Cobb's angle before and after applying foot orthosis, and followed up after 6 months. RESULTS: There were 25 males and 13 females, and the average age was 10.28+/-0.45 years. There were no significant correlation among Cobb's angle, limb length discrepancy, and difference of pronation. Cobb's angles were improved in 26 cases after applying foot orthosis, by mean 5.84+/-2.47 degree. 16 cases were followed up after 6 months, and Cobb's angle were maintained or improved in 11 cases. Mean correctability was 47.93+/-26.47%. CONCLUSION: This study showed that foot orthosis could be one of the effective method to improve spinal curvature.