RESUMO
O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil funcional, características do pé, o hábito de andar descalço de indivíduos com alterações musculoesqueléticas nos pés e comparar com indivíduos controle. Os participantes foram avaliados por meio de questionário eletrônico. Dados antropométricos, funcionalidade dos pés, hábito de andar descalço, tipo de calçado, tipo de pé e pisada e qual comprometimento do pé foram coletados. A amostra total foi composta por 160 indivíduos divididos em grupo controle (GC) (n=82) e grupo problemas no pé (GPE) (n=78). O hálux valgo foi o principal tipo de problema no grupo GPE (24,4%), com uma maior porcentagem de participantes com doença crônica (35,9%), tipos de pés cavos (pé esquerdo (PE) 16,7% e pé direito (PD) 19,2%) ou planos (PE 21,8% e PD 21,8%) e com o Índice de função do pé comprometido em 7% (P =0,001). Ambos os grupos consideram o hábito de andar descalço saudável (72% GC e 66,7% GPE), porém não são adeptos deste hábito (93,9% GC e 91% GPE). O sapato foi o modelo menos utilizado pelo GPE (10,3%). Concluímos que indivíduos do grupo GPE apresentaram maior associação de alterações morfofuncionais com a presença de distúrbios nos pés e que o hábito de andar descalço apesar de ser considerado um aspecto positivo para a saúde dos pés de ambos os grupos, nenhum destes o praticam.
This study aimed to evaluate the functional profile, foot characteristics, and barefoot walking habits of individuals with musculoskeletal foot alterations and compare them with control individuals. Participants were assessed through an electronic questionnaire. Anthropometric data, foot functionality, barefoot walking habits, footwear type, foot type, foot arch, stride type, and foot impairments were collected. The total sample consisted of 160 individuals divided into a control group (CG) (n=82) and a foot problems group (FPG) (n=78). Hallux valgus was the main foot problem in the FPG (24.4%), with a higher percentage of participants having chronic conditions (35.9%), cavus foot types (left foot (LF) 16.7% and right foot (RF) 19.2%), or flat foot types (LF 21.8% and RF 21.8%), and with a compromised Foot Function Index in 7% (P=0.001). Both groups considered barefoot walking healthy (72% CG and 66.7% FPG), but they are not practitioners of this habit (93.9% CG and 91% FPG). Shoes were the least utilized type of footwear in the FPG (10.3%). In conclusion, individuals in the FPG showed a stronger association between morpho-functional alterations and foot disorders. Although barefoot walking is considered beneficial for foot health in both groups, neither group practices this habit.
RESUMO
In his classic research, Morton established two functionally different configurations of the bipedal and non-bipedal primate foot: one optimized for stability, with a stiff longitudinal arch and adducted first metatarsal, and the other for compliance. Modern human feet were seen as conforming to the bipedal norm and variation from it as pathology, even though clinical evidence has been clear that variation from the norm of a stiff longitudinal arch or adducted first metatarsal exists. This study aims to document the variation in linear and angular measurements of the foot, using weight-bearing radiographs of 50 randomly selected people (25 men) from an urban US Level 1 trauma center. The radiographs were obtained to "rule-out" a foot fracture after trauma or as comparison films for a contralateral foot injury. Measurements were made using Osirix and correlations among the angular and length measurements were determined using Stata with P < 0.05 and Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. We found that foot length was not correlated with angular measurements, except for the angle between the first and fifth metatarsal. People with lower medial longitudinal arches also had more abducted first metatarsals and more vertical posterior facets, in accordance with Morton's foot types. Whether or not this variation in modern humans is linked to functionally important consequences remains to be determined in future research. With the new evidence of a more variable foot structure in fossil hominins, understanding the relationship between foot morphology and function becomes more urgent.
