Effects of foot orthosis on ground reaction forces and perception during short sprints in flat-footed athletes

Abstract

Prefabricated foot orthosis (FO) is commonly worn for flat foot management. This study aimed to investigate the kinetic and perceptual effects of wearing prefabricated FO among flat-footed athletes during bouts of sprints. Twenty male sprint-based sports athletes who had flat foot bilaterally ran at three test speeds (5, 6, 7 m/s) under two conditions: prefabricated FO and sham FO. Ground reaction force (GRF) variables and subjective perceptions were recorded. Kinetic variability of GRF variables were computed to indicate step-to-step variance. Biomechanically, wearing prefabricated FOs increased vertical impact force (p = .005), loading rate (p = .001), and kinetic variability of peak propulsive force (p = .038) and loading rate (p = .019) during sprinting speeds across 5 to 7 m/s. Subjectively, prefabricated FO provided better arch support (p = .001) but resulted in reduced forefoot cushioning (p = .001), heel cushioning (p = .002), and overall comfort (p = .008).