Correlation of body mass index with foot posture and musculoskeletal disorders in the young adult population
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17267/2238-2704rpf.2025.e6354Keywords:
Foot Posture, Body Mass Index, Young Adult, Musculoskeletal Pain, FPI-6Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The foot's posture is dependent on three bony arches: the medial longitudinal, lateral longitudinal, and transverse arches. It fluctuates with the advancement of a person's age. Irregular foot arches may lead to abnormalities and elevate the likelihood of injury. Anthropometric factors, including height, weight, and BMI, correspond with age. The study sought to establish a correlation between body mass index, foot position, and musculoskeletal disorders, including discomfort in the trunk and lower limbs. METHODS: A total of 55 participants aged 18 to 25 years were enrolled in the study, meeting the inclusion criteria. Foot posture was evaluated with the FPI-6 grading system in a comfortable standing position. The presence and absence of musculoskeletal pain are assessed using a custom-designed questionnaire. Additional factors such as weight (kg), height (cm), and body mass index were also assessed. RESULTS: The study indicated no statistically significant link between body mass index and foot posture (r= -0.047, p= 0.731). A slight positive connection is present between body mass index and musculoskeletal discomfort (r= 0.050, p= 0.715). CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate that varying BMI does not influence foot posture but has a marginal effect on musculoskeletal discomfort. Body mass index is not correlated with foot posture but has a modest link with the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Pallakkat Sneha Balakrishnan, Amal Nelson Paulraj
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
