Efficacy of Functional Re-Education as a Treatment for Infantile Flexible Flatfoot: Systematic Review
Background: Flexible pediatric flatfoot is an anatomical presentation of the foot that is common in children, and its functional impact raises long-term uncertainty. Functional re-education includes strengthening and stretching exercises for the intrinsic and extrinsic musculature of the foot, propo...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| author | Cristina Molina-García George Banwell Francisco Álvarez-Salvago Andrés Reinoso-Cobo Clara Pujol-Fuentes Jose Medina-Luque Laura Ramos-Petersen |
| author_facet | Cristina Molina-García George Banwell Francisco Álvarez-Salvago Andrés Reinoso-Cobo Clara Pujol-Fuentes Jose Medina-Luque Laura Ramos-Petersen |
| author_sort | Cristina Molina-García |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Flexible pediatric flatfoot is an anatomical presentation of the foot that is common in children, and its functional impact raises long-term uncertainty. Functional re-education includes strengthening and stretching exercises for the intrinsic and extrinsic musculature of the foot, proposed as an effective conservative treatment. However, to date, there is no systematic review examining its effectiveness in the pediatric population. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of functional re-education as a conservative treatment for flexible pediatric flatfoot, determining which exercises are most effective. Methods: A search (PROSPERO: CRD42023391030) was conducted across six databases, resulting in an initial total of 327 studies. Of these, 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the inclusion criteria, resulting in a sample of 419 children aged 6 to 14 years with a diagnosis of flexible flatfoot. The evaluated studies present variations in diagnostic criteria, types of exercises, and treatment duration. Results: The results indicate that functional re-education is effective in improving the symptomatology and functionality of the foot in children. In particular, exercises targeting the intrinsic musculature proved to be among the most effective treatments, improving the structural development of the medial longitudinal arch. The reviewed literature recommends a minimum treatment duration of eight weeks. Conclusions: Functional re-education represents an effective conservative treatment option for flexible flatfoot in children, positioning it as the treatment of choice for this condition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8711a07483864e5a8f636050045fb489 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj-art-8711a07483864e5a8f636050045fb4892025-01-24T13:26:58ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-12-01121810.3390/children12010008Efficacy of Functional Re-Education as a Treatment for Infantile Flexible Flatfoot: Systematic ReviewCristina Molina-García0George Banwell1Francisco Álvarez-Salvago2Andrés Reinoso-Cobo3Clara Pujol-Fuentes4Jose Medina-Luque5Laura Ramos-Petersen6Faculty of Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Occupational Therapy, Catholic University San Antonio-UCAM, 30107 Murcia, SpainNursing and Podiatry, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, European University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainNursing and Podiatry, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, European University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainTranslational Brain Research, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, GermanyNursing and Podiatry, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, SpainBackground: Flexible pediatric flatfoot is an anatomical presentation of the foot that is common in children, and its functional impact raises long-term uncertainty. Functional re-education includes strengthening and stretching exercises for the intrinsic and extrinsic musculature of the foot, proposed as an effective conservative treatment. However, to date, there is no systematic review examining its effectiveness in the pediatric population. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of functional re-education as a conservative treatment for flexible pediatric flatfoot, determining which exercises are most effective. Methods: A search (PROSPERO: CRD42023391030) was conducted across six databases, resulting in an initial total of 327 studies. Of these, 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the inclusion criteria, resulting in a sample of 419 children aged 6 to 14 years with a diagnosis of flexible flatfoot. The evaluated studies present variations in diagnostic criteria, types of exercises, and treatment duration. Results: The results indicate that functional re-education is effective in improving the symptomatology and functionality of the foot in children. In particular, exercises targeting the intrinsic musculature proved to be among the most effective treatments, improving the structural development of the medial longitudinal arch. The reviewed literature recommends a minimum treatment duration of eight weeks. Conclusions: Functional re-education represents an effective conservative treatment option for flexible flatfoot in children, positioning it as the treatment of choice for this condition.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/1/8flexible flatfootpediatricschildrenexercisesfunctional re-educationstretching |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Molina-García George Banwell Francisco Álvarez-Salvago Andrés Reinoso-Cobo Clara Pujol-Fuentes Jose Medina-Luque Laura Ramos-Petersen Efficacy of Functional Re-Education as a Treatment for Infantile Flexible Flatfoot: Systematic Review Children flexible flatfoot pediatrics children exercises functional re-education stretching |
| title | Efficacy of Functional Re-Education as a Treatment for Infantile Flexible Flatfoot: Systematic Review |
| title_full | Efficacy of Functional Re-Education as a Treatment for Infantile Flexible Flatfoot: Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of Functional Re-Education as a Treatment for Infantile Flexible Flatfoot: Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of Functional Re-Education as a Treatment for Infantile Flexible Flatfoot: Systematic Review |
| title_short | Efficacy of Functional Re-Education as a Treatment for Infantile Flexible Flatfoot: Systematic Review |
| title_sort | efficacy of functional re education as a treatment for infantile flexible flatfoot systematic review |
| topic | flexible flatfoot pediatrics children exercises functional re-education stretching |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/1/8 |
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