INTRA‐RATER AND INTER‐RATER RELIABILITY OF THE FIVE IMAGE‐BASED CRITERIA OF THE FOOT POSTURE INDEX‐6

Purpose/Background:

The Foot Posture Index‐6 (FPI‐6) is considered a simple quantification tool to assess static foot alignment. Palpation of the foot is required for assessment of one of the six criteria that comprise the FPI‐6; the remaining five criteria may be evaluated using still‐frame photographs. Using only the image‐based criteria may allow multiple clinicians to evaluate large groups of patients quickly. Reliability using only these five image‐based criteria has not been established. The purposes of the current study were to establish the inter‐ and intra‐rater reliability using five image‐based criteria from the Foot Posture Index‐6 (FPI‐6) as well as to examine the agreement between the raters in identifying foot type using the composite five FPI scores.

Methods:

Forty participants (23 females, 17 males; 23.67 ± 8.49 years; 64.59 ± 14.43 kg; 166.07 ± 11.79 cm) volunteered for this study. An investigator took three photos with a digital camera of the medial longitudinal arch, posterior ankle, and of the talonavicular joint approximately 45° from the posterior calcaneus for both right and left feet. Two investigators assessed the five image‐based criteria of the FPI‐6 for both feet of 40 participants on three occasions separated by a day. Inter‐and intra‐rater reliability were assessed with Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC_3,2). The amount of agreement for classification of foot posture type between the two raters was assessed with Cohen''s kappa coefficient. Significance was set a priori at P < 0.05.

Results:

The inter‐rater reliability was poor to moderate for all three sessions (ICC_3,2 = 0.334‐0.634). For the foot posture classification, the amount of agreement between two raters was poor for left (κ= 0.12) and right (κ= 0.19) feet. The intra‐rater reliability was excellent for left (ICC_3,2=0.956) and right feet (ICC_3,2=0.959).

Conclusions:

Excellent intra‐rater and poor to moderate inter‐rater reliability was found using only the five image‐based criteria of the FPI‐6. However, the classification of foot posture did not improve the amount of agreement between raters. Therefore, caution is needed when interpreting FPI scores from five image‐based criteria.

Levels of Evidence:

3b     

COMPARING THE EFFECTS OF SELF‐MYOFASCIAL RELEASE WITH STATIC STRETCHING ON ANKLE RANGE‐OF‐MOTION IN ADOLESCENT ATHLETES

Background:

Increased flexibility is often desirable immediately prior to sports performance. Static stretching (SS) has historically been the main method for increasing joint range‐of‐motion (ROM) acutely. However, SS is associated with acute reductions in performance. Foam rolling (FR) is a form of self‐myofascial release (SMR) that also increases joint ROM acutely but does not seem to reduce force production. However, FR has never previously been studied in resistance‐trained athletes, in adolescents, or in individuals accustomed to SMR.

Objective:

To compare the effects of SS and FR and a combination of both (FR+SS) of the plantarflexors on passive ankle dorsiflexion ROM in resistance‐trained, adolescent athletes with at least six months of FR experience.

Methods:

Eleven resistance‐trained, adolescent athletes with at least six months of both resistance‐training and FR experience were tested on three separate occasions in a randomized cross‐over design. The subjects were assessed for passive ankle dorsiflexion ROM after a period of passive rest pre‐intervention, immediately post‐intervention and after 10, 15, and 20 minutes of passive rest. Following the pre‐intervention test, the subjects randomly performed either SS, FR or FR+SS. SS and FR each comprised 3 sets of 30 seconds of the intervention with 10 seconds of inter‐set rest. FR+SS comprised the protocol from the FR condition followed by the protocol from the SS condition in sequence.

Results:

A significant effect of time was found for SS, FR and FR+SS. Post hoc testing revealed increases in ROM between baseline and post‐intervention by 6.2% for SS (p < 0.05) and 9.1% for FR+SS (p < 0.05) but not for FR alone. Post hoc testing did not reveal any other significant differences between baseline and any other time point for any condition. A significant effect of condition was observed immediately post‐intervention. Post hoc testing revealed that FR+SS was superior to FR (p < 0.05) for increasing ROM.

Conclusions:

FR, SS and FR+SS all lead to acute increases in flexibility and FR+SS appears to have an additive effect in comparison with FR alone. All three interventions (FR, SS and FR+SS) have time courses that lasted less than 10 minutes.

Level of evidence:

2c     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLENOHUMERAL JOINT TOTAL ROTATIONAL RANGE OF MOTION AND THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN? SHOULDER MOBILITY TEST

Purpose/Background:

Side to side asymmetry in glenohumeral joint rotation correlates with injury risk in overhead athletes. The purpose of the current study was to identify the relationship between side‐to‐side asymmetries in glenohumeral joint total rotational range of motion and shoulder mobility test scores from the Functional Movement Screen™ in collegiate overhead athletes. The authors hypothesized that asymmetries of > 10° in glenohumeral total rotation would not be associated with asymmetrical findings in the Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS) shoulder mobility test.

Methods:

Passive glenohumeral total rotational range of motion and the shoulder mobility test of the FMS were measured during pre‐participation examinations in 121 NCAA male and female Division II collegiate overhead athletes from varied sports. Passive shoulder range of motion was measured in supine at 90° of abduction, with the humerus in the scapular plane using two measurers and a bubble goniometer. A Pearson Chi‐square analysis, p<.05 was used to associate the presence of asymmetries in glenohumeral joint rotation and in the FMS shoulder mobility test in each subject.

Results:

40/114 (35.1%) athletes demonstrated asymmetries in total glenohumeral rotation. 45/114 (39.5%) athletes demonstrated asymmetries in the shoulder mobility test. Only 17 of the 45 subjects who demonstrated asymmetry on the shoulder mobility test also demonstrated glenohumeral joint rotation differences of > 10°. Athletes with asymmetries in rotation of > 10° were not any more likely to have asymmetries identified in the shoulder mobility test (95% CI=.555‐2.658, P=.627).

Conclusions

Glenohumeral joint range of motion is one of multiple contributors to performance on the FMS shoulder mobility test, and alone, did not appear to influence results. The FMS shoulder mobility test should not be used alone as a means of identifying clinically meaningful differences of shoulder mobility in the overhead athlete. Clinicians working with overhead athletes may consider using both assessments as a complete screening tool for injury prevention measures.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3     

EFFECTS OF WEARING ATHLETIC SHOES,FIVE‐TOED SHOES,AND STANDING BAREFOOT ON BALANCE PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG ADULTS

Background/Purpose

Almost all research using participants wearing barefoot‐style shoes study elite runners or have participants with a history of barefoot style shoe training run on a treadmill when shod or barefoot. Wearing barefoot‐style shoes is suggested as a method of transition between shod and barefoot running. Static and dynamic balance exercises also are recommended. However, little information is available on the effects five‐toed barefoot style shoes have on static balance. The purpose of this study was to examine balance of subjects barefoot, wearing Vibram FiveFingers™ barefoot‐style shoes, and regular athletic shoes with eyes closed when using the Biodex Balance System‐SD™.

Study Design

This was a repeated measures study.

Methods

Forty nine participants aged 18‐30 years without lower extremity injury or experience wearing barefoot‐style shoes were tested for static balance on the Biodex Stability System™ with their eyes closed while wearing Vibram FiveFingers™, athletic shoes, or barefoot. Three trials of 10 seconds for each footwear type were completed. Repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni''s correction was used to analyze the degrees of sway in the anterior‐posterior and medial lateral directions. An overall stability index was also calculated by the Biodex.

Results

For anterior‐posterior and overall indices, differences were found between all conditions. Participants wearing athletic shoes demonstrated the smallest anterior‐posterior stability index (least sway) and spent the most time in the innermost concentric circular zone. Medial‐lateral indices were not different for any condition.

Conclusions

Wearing Vibram FiveFingers™ provided better overall and anterior‐posterior static balance than going barefoot. While differences between Vibram FiveFingers™ and barefoot are significant, results may reflect statistical significance rather than any clinical difference in young, uninjured individuals.

Clinical relevance

It would appear that Vibram FiveFingers™ mimic going barefoot and may be a bridge for exercising in preparation for barefoot exercise.

Level of Evidence

3B     

CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF KINESIOLOGICAL TAPING ON PAIN AND PAIN‐FREE SHOULDER RANGE OF MOTION IN PATIENTS WITH SHOULDER IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME: A RANDOMIZED,DOUBLE BLINDED,PLACEBO‐CONTROLLED TRIAL

Background:

Kinesiological taping (KT) is commonly used to improve symptoms associated with musculoskeletal disorders. However, review of the literature revealed minimal evidence to support the use of KT in treatment of shoulder disorders and controversy exists regarding the effect of KT in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS).

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of KT on pain intensity during movement, pain experienced during the night (nocturnal pain), and pain‐free shoulder range of motion (ROM) immediately after taping, after three days and after one week, in patients with SIS.

Design:

Randomized, Double blinded, Placebo‐controlled design.

Participants:

A total of 30 patients with SIS participated in this study. Patients were assigned randomly to a control (N = 15) and an experimental group (N = 15).

Methods:

The patients in the experimental group received a standardized therapeutic KT. The standardized, placebo neutral KT was applied for control group. KT was applied two times with a three day interval, remaining on during the 3 day interval. Both groups followed the same procedures. Pain‐free active ROM during shoulder abduction, flexion, and elevation in the scapular plane was measured. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain intensity during movement or nocturnal pain and was assessed at baseline, immediately after KT, after three days, and one week after KT.

Results:

The result of repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant change in pain level during movement, nocturnal pain, and pain‐free ROM (p = 0.000) after KT in the experimental group. In the ANCOVA, controlling for pre‐test scores, change in pain level at movement (p = 0.009) and nocturnal pain (p = 0.04) immediately after KT was significantly greater in the experimental group than in control group. There was no significant difference in ROM measures (p > 0.05) between groups immediately after KT. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the after one week measurements of pain intensity and shoulder ROM.

Conclusion:

The KT produces an immediate improvement in the pain intensity at movement and nocturnal pain in patients with SIS.

Level of Evidence:

1