Therapeutic exercises for the foot and ankle complex in distance runners: influence on the strength of the intrinsic muscles and the longitudinal arch architecture

• Grant number: 16/21304-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Isabel de Camargo Neves Sacco
• Grantee: Fernanda Iacovanduano de Almeida Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: to investigate the effects of a protocol of therapeutic exercises for the ankle and foot complex in the strength of the intrinsic muscles of the foot, the architecture of the longitudinal arch, functionality and health of the feet. Methods: there will be a prospective controlled clinical trial, parallel with random allocation and blinding of assessors with 30 health street runners aged between 18 and 55 who will be randomly assigned to the control group or intervention. The intervention group will participate in a therapeutic exercise program for the ankle/ foot complex. The exercises should be performed by an eight-week period, and there will be an in-person follow-up once a week by a physical therapist and two other times a week remotely supervised by a software. The subjects will be evaluated twice with an eight-week interval between assessments, through a pressure platform, with the aim of measuring the strength of the intrinsic muscles and arch architecture, and by measuring the Foot Health Status Questionnaire. The functionality and health of the feet will be assessed by validated questionnaire Foot Health Status Questionnaire, Brazilian version. Hypotheses: are hypotheses of this study to improve the health and function of the feet, the increased strength of the intrinsic muscles of the feet and the decline in the Cavanagh and Rodgers index, indicating a higher arch and a lower dynamic deformation even under the action of loads bipedalism in the runners of the intervention group. (AU)