Effect of Trunk Stabilization on Pronated Feet

July 23, 2026 updated by: Nada Fathi Farrag Abdellah, Kafrelsheikh University

Effect of Trunk Stabilization Exercise on Dynamic Balance and Foot Function of Pronated Foot Posture

the purpose of this study is to investigate The effect Trunk stabilization on dynamic balance and foot function of pronated foot posture.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Pronation is the simultaneous calcaneal eversion with foot abduction and dorsiflexion. The range of motion (ROM) for subtalar joint during pronation was around 5 ° to 10°. Pronation is important for stabilization in standing and walking, but excessive ROM for this motion can lead to over pronation.

Foot pronation is a natural movement, necessary for the normal development of gait, since it contributes to the absorption of the ground reaction forces .

However, overpronation causes the collapse of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, thus causing more tension in certain muscles of the foot and leg, i.e., posterior tibialis. Pronated feet present rearfoot eversion and dorsiflexion with abduction of the forefoot in a static position, and in addition, have a strong relationship with the medial longitudinal arch (MLA). It is suggested that maintaining the integrity of the MLA can prevent numerous musculoskeletal injuries .

Pronated foot posture is common in adulthood, with a prevalence of around 21%, and it may be related to deformities of the first ray of the foot, such as the hallux valgus. Furthermore, this biomechanical alteration can also affect other areas, such as the knee .Thus, pronation influences the time and intensity of lumbopelvic muscle activation, giving rise to low back pain or other dysfunctions at that level.

There are several methods to treat the pronated foot, such as custom foot orthoses, external modifications of the footwear, exercises to strength the muscles involved or even surgery .Strength exercises are a highly recommended method in the treatment of childhood flat foot, since muscle enhancement plays very important role in the development of the lower limbs in the growth of the child. The lack of treatment can often lead to short- and long-term problems with deformities in adolescence and adulthood .

In adults, exercising the intrinsic foot musculature (short-foot exercises) has been shown to be effective in reducing the height of the internal arch or pronation in healthy subjects and sportspersons .Recently Pabón-Carrasco et al. demonstrated that foot posture could be modified with shot foot exercises, with a decrease in navicular drop measurements.

The main Intrinsic foot muscles (IFMs) are abductor hallucis (ABH), flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) and quadratus plantae (QP). Their principal function is to provide foot stability and flexibility for shock absorption ; improve dynamic alignment; stiffen the foot arches and stimulate proprioceptors on the sole of the feet . IFMs are also categorised as active subsystems in the foot core system and play an important role in static posture and dynamic activities .

Hence, strengthening of the IFM is logical as a possible intervention to help prevent pronation-related injuries. Common methods used to strengthen the IFM have previously involved toe-flexion exercises (e.g. towel crunches or marble pickups). However, Isolation of the IFM using the short-feet exercise could potentially be a more effective method to reinforce the MLA.

The muscle thicknesses and cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the abductor hallucis (AbH), flexor hallucis brevis (FHB), flexor hallucis longus (FHL), and flexor digitorum longus (FDL) change in feet with reduced MLA ,under weight-bearing conditions. (4).

The core trunk musculature is comprised of abdominals, paraspinal, hip joint muscles and pelvic floor muscles. Co-contraction of transverses abdominis and multifidus is essential for the stability of the spine in static and dynamic balance. During inspiration, the diaphragm creates intra-abdominal pressure which creates spinal stability. This intra-abdominal pressure activates pelvic floor muscles and eccentrically abdominals to provide spinal stabilization and posture is improved .

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Kafrelsheikh
      • KafrelSheikh, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt, 33516
        • Faculty of Physical Therapy , Kafrelsheikh University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Subject's age ranged from 18-25 years (35)
  2. Subjects had bilateral pronated feet posture according to navicular drop test (20)
  3. Body Mass Index (MBI) ranged from 18.5 to 24.9 kg/ m2

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Rigid structure foot deformity
  2. Acute lower extremity injuries or fractures
  3. History of lower limb or foot surgery
  4. Severe foot pain interfering with exercise performance
  5. Any neurological deficit affecting balance.
  6. Inflammatory arthropathy ( e.g. rheumatoid arthritis )
  7. Any medication can affect the balance.
  8. Current pregnancy
  9. Cardiovascular or respiratory disorders
  10. Cellulitis
  11. Diabetes.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Trunk stabilization exercise
a participants recieve Trunk stabilization exercise and pronated foot exercise
An Exprimental group receive trunk stabilixation and pronated foot exercise
participants recieve a conventional exercise program for pronated foot posture
Active Comparator: control pronated foot posture
A participant receives a pronated foot exercise
participants recieve a conventional exercise program for pronated foot posture

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
dynamic balance
Time Frame: baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
dynamic balance will be assessed using balance check 363 system , lower sway values indicate better balance
baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Foot function index
Time Frame: baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
Foot function will be assessed using Foot Function Index ( FFI ). The total score range from 0 to 100, with higher score indicating worse pain , distability , and activity limitation
baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 25, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 28, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

February 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 21, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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