Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in children´s foot: preliminary study

Abstract

At school age, children already have the functionality and foot morphology of adult but have not yet completed skeletal maturity. This makes it a proper age for appropriate prevention and early diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders of the feet and lower limbs. We conducted a cross-sectional study of prevalence for the health of the feet of the schoolaged children. 116 children have been assessed by clinical observation and a study of gait with a pressure platform. The most striking results were that 93% never had made a similar exploration, 95% had altered pressure distribution footprint, 75% showed some alteration in the dynamics (the most frequent excessive pronation phase propulsion) and the same percentage of children wearing shoes small size. More than half had an abnormal trace excessively pronated foot. Meanwhile, 40% had pain, 35% had pes cavus and flatfoot 10%. Finally, 32% had one forefoot pathology. The remaining changes were less frequent. We found a high prevalence of alterations so it is further evidence of the need for regular checks at this age to prevent complications and implement programs of health education.