The Effect of Foot Deformities on the Electrical Activity of Selected Lower Limb Muscles During Jumping and Landing

Document Type : Original research papers

Authors

1 The Organization for Educational Research and Planning, Tehran, Iran

2 Faculty of Humanities, University College of Omran_Toseeh,Hamedan, Iran

3 Faculty of Humanities, University College of Omran_Toseeh, Hamedan, Iran

4 Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Faculty of Educational Science and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract

Deformities of the foot are among the factors that affect the normal function of the foot in various movements and tasks. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of foot deformities on the electrical activity of selected lower limb muscles during jumping and landing activities. Forty-five participants were selected voluntarily. Based on the entry and exit criteria, the subjects were divided into groups of fifteen people, including normal feet, flat feet, and cave feet. The navicular drop index was used to divide the groups. The electrical activity of the muscles of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), semitendinosus (ST), and biceps femoris (BF) was measured during jumping and landing. A 30 cm-high jumping platform was used to perform the double-leg jump landing task. A one-way analysis of variance test was used to compare the data. A significance level of 0.05 was also considered. The results showed significant feedforward activity of the vastus latralis and rectus femoris muscles between normal, cave foot, and flat feet. Also, there was a significant difference between the feedback activity of the rectus femoris, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris muscles between the three groups of normal, cave, and flat feet. According to the results, cave foot and flat foot may be associated with altered activation patterns of knee stabilizers and increase the risk of injuries in the knees during double-leg jumping and landing.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Murley GS, Landorf KB, Menz HB, Bird AR. Effect of foot posture, foot orthoses and footwear on lower limb muscle activity during walking and running: a systematic review. Gait Posture. 2009;29(2):172–87.  DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2008.08.015
  2. Zifchock RA, Theriot C, Hillstrom HJ, Song J, Neary M. The relationship between arch height and arch flexibility: a proposed arch flexibility classification system for the description of multidimensional foot structure. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2017;107(2):119–23. DOI: 10.7547/15-051
  3. Giannini S, Buda RE, Parma A, Ramponi L, Mazzotti A, Vannini F. Ankle and foot: Foot abnormalities and pathologies. Pediatr Adolesc Sport Traumatol. 2014;223–35. DOI: 10.1007/978-88-470-5412-7_19
  4. Williams DS, Davis IM, Scholz JP, Hamill J, Buchanan TS. High-arched runners exhibit increased leg stiffness compared to low-arched runners. Gait Posture. 2004;19(3):263–9. DOI: 10.1016/S0966-6362(03)00087-0
  5. Williams DS, McClay IS. Measurements Used to Characterize the Foot and the Medial Longitudinal Arch: Reliability and Validity. Phys Ther. 2000 Sep;80(9):864–71. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10960934/
  6. Maharaj JN, Cresswell AG, Lichtwark GA. Subtalar joint pronation and energy absorption requirements during walking are related to tibialis posterior tendinous tissue strain. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):17958. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17771-7
  7. Karatsolis K, Nikolopoulos CS, Papadopoulos ES, Vagenas G, Terzis E, Athanasopoulos S. Eversion and inversion muscle group peak torque in hyperpronated and normal individuals. foot. 2009;19(1):29–35. DOI: 10.1016/j.foot.2008.06.006
  8. Palomo-Toucedo IC, González-Elena ML, Balestra-Romero P, Vázquez-Bautista M del C, Castro-Méndez A, Reina-Bueno M. Pilot Study: Effect of Morton’s Extension on the Subtalar Joint Forces in Subjects with Excessive Foot Pronation. Sensors. 2023;23(5):2505. DOI: 10.3390/s23052505
  9. Jafarnezhadgero A, Givi AM, Hamlabadi MP, Sajedi H, Zago M. Muscle activation while running on the ground compared to artificial turf in males with pronated and supinated feet. Gait Posture. 2024;107:306–11. DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.10.020
  10. Moisan G, Chicoine D, McBride S, Farahpour N, Isabelle P-L, Dagenais C, et al. Supination resistance variations in foot and ankle musculoskeletal disorders: implications for diagnosis and customised interventions with wedged insoles. J Foot Ankle Res. 2023;16(1):91. DOI: 10.1186/s13047-023-00681-5
  11. Ramirez-Campillo R, Garcia-Pinillos F, Chaabene H, Moran J, Behm DG, Granacher U. Effects of plyometric jump training on electromyographic activity and its relationship to strength and jump performance in healthy trained and untrained populations: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Strength Cond Res. 2021;35(7):2053–65. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004056
  12. Sebesi B, Fésüs Á, Varga M, Atlasz T, Vadász K, Mayer P, et al. The indirect role of gluteus medius muscle in knee joint stability during unilateral vertical jump and landing on unstable surface in young trained males. Appl Sci. 2021;11(16):7421. https:// DOI.org/10.3390/app11167421
  13. Kotsifaki A, Van Rossom S, Whiteley R, Korakakis V, Bahr R, Sideris V, et al. Single leg vertical jump performance identifies knee function deficits at ret DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2021-104692 urn to sport after ACL reconstruction in male athletes. Br J Sports Med. 2022;56(9):490–8. DOI.org/10.3390/biomechanics1010002
  14. Harry JR, Eggleston JD, Dufek JS, James CR. Single-subject analyses reveal altered performance and muscle activation during vertical jumping. Biomechanics. 2020;1(1):15–28. DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics1010002
  15. Ellenberger L, Casutt S, Fröhlich S, Frey WO, Snedeker JG, Spörri J. Thigh muscle activation patterns and dynamic knee valgus at peak ground reaction force during drop jump landings: Reliability, youth competitive alpine skiing-specific reference values and relation to knee overuse complaints. J Sci Med Sport. 2021;24(12):1230–4. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2021.06.006
  16. Bi G, Zhang Y, Li Q, Hu L, Zhang Y. Knee joint mechanics and activation characteristics of surrounding muscles during deep jumps at different heights and distances. Chinese J Tissue Eng Res. 2023;27(8):1211. https://www.cjter.com/EN/10.12307/2023.084
  17. Kannas TM, Katis A, Arabatzi F. Alterations in co-activation around the ankle joint after specific training, do not affect vertical jumping kinematics and performance. J Phys Educ Sport. 2022;22(7):1668–74. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10439999/
  18. Hajiloo B, Anbarian M, Esmaeili H, Mirzapour M. The effects of fatigue on synergy of selected lower limb muscles during running. J Biomech. 2020;103. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.109692
  19. Fischer AN, Kuhn CB, Dexter WW. An Investigation of the Affect of Skin Movement Over the Navicular Bone during Measurement of Navicular Drop. Clin J Sport Med. 2006;16(5):436. DOI: 10.1111/joa.12050
  20. Zuil-Escobar JC, Martínez-Cepa CB, Martín-Urrialde JA, Gómez-Conesa A. Medial longitudinal arch: accuracy, reliability, and correlation between navicular drop test and footprint parameters. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018;41(8):672–9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2018.04.001
  21. Adams DC, Nistri A. Ontogenetic convergence and evolution of foot morphology in European cave salamanders (Family: Plethodontidae). BMC Evol Biol. 2010;10:1–10. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-10-216
  22. Scholz T, Zech A, Wegscheider K, Lezius S, Braumann K-M, Sehner S, et al. Reliability and correlation of static and dynamic foot arch measurement in a healthy pediatric population. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2017;107(5):419–27. DOI: 10.7547/16-133
  23. Carrasco AC, Silva MF, Guenka LC, Silva CT, Moura FA, Cardoso JR. Non-radiographic validity and reliability measures for assessing foot types: a systematic review. Foot Ankle Surg. 2021;27(8):839–50. DOI: 10.1016/j.fas.2020.11.011
  24. McPoil TG, Cornwall MW, Medoff L, Vicenzino B, Forsberg K, Hilz D. Arch height change during sit-to-stand: an alternative for the navicular drop test. J Foot Ankle Res. 2008;1:1–11.
  25. Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Merletti R, Stegeman D, Blok J, Rau G, et al. European recommendations for surface electromyography. Roessingh Res Dev. 1999;8(2):13–54. https://files.core.ac.uk/download/567609420.
  26. Hajilou, Behrouz, Anbarian M, Esmaili H, Sadeghi S. The effect of quadriceps fatigue on electromyographic activity of some knee joint muscles during stance phase of walking. 2014;6(1):73–88. DOI:10.22059/jsmed.2014.50132
  27. Konow N, Roberts TJ. Prepared for landing: A simple activation strategy scales muscle force to landing height. J Biomech. 2024;165:112022. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112022
  28. Pourheidary S, Sheikhhoseini R, Babakhani F. The Electromyographic Feedback and Feedforward Activity of Selected Lower Extremity Muscles during Toe-in Landing in Female Athletes. Phys Treat Phys Ther J. 2019;9(4):23–210. DOI:10.32598/ptj.9.4.203
  29. Sepehrian M, Anbarian M, Khotanlou H, Hajilou B. Effects of Cycling-induced Fatigue on Lower Extremity Muscles Synergy in Novice Triathletes. J Adv Sport Technol. 2022;6(1):103–12. DOI:10.22098/jast.2022.1813
  30. He X, Leong HT, Lau OY, Ong MT-Y, Yung PS-H. Altered neuromuscular activity of the lower-extremities during landing tasks in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review of electromyographic studies. J Sport Rehabil. 2020;29(8):1194–203. DOI: 10.1123/jsr.2019-0393
  31. Urabe Y, Kobayashi R, Sumida S, Tanaka K, Yoshida N, Nishiwaki GA, et al. Electromyographic analysis of the knee during jump landing in male and female athletes. Knee. 2005;12(2):129–34. DOI: 10.1016/j.knee.2004.05.002
  32. McNair PJ, Prapavessis H, Callender K. Decreasing landing forces: effect of instruction. Br J Sports Med. 2000;34(4):293–6. DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.34.4.293
  33. Choi J-H, An H-J, Yoo K-T. Comparison of the loading rate and lower limb angles on drop-landing between a normal foot and flatfoot. J Phys Ther Sci. 2012;24(11):1153–7. DOI: 10.1589/jpts.24.1153
  34. Zhou H, Chen C, Xu D, Ugbolue UC, Baker JS, Gu Y. Biomechanical characteristics between bionic shoes and normal shoes during the drop-landing phase: A pilot study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(6):3223. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18063223
  35. Noori M, Minoonejad H, Seydi F. The effect of functional fatigue on timing of electromyography activity of quadriceps and hamstring muscles during single leg jump-landing task in female athletes. Sci J Kurdistan Univ Med Sci. 2016;21(4):73–82. https://sjku.muk.ac.ir/article-1-2545-en.html
  36. Javdaneh N, Minoonejad H, Shirzad E. Investigating some neuromuscular risk factors of acl injury in athletes with ankle pronation deformity. Sport Sci Heal Res. 2015;7(2):221–35. DOI: 10.22059/jsmed.2015.56542
  37. Neumann DA. Kinesiology of the musculoskeletal system-e-book: foundations for rehabilitation. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2016.
  38. Oatis CA. Kinesiology, the mechanics and pathomechanics of human movement. 2nd ed. 2009;Williams a.
  39. Peng H-T, Kernozek TW, Song C-Y. Quadricep and hamstring activation during drop jumps with changes in drop height. Phys Ther Sport. 2011;12(3):127–32. DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2010.10.001
  40. Li G, Rudy TW, Sakane M, Kanamori A, Ma CB, Woo S-Y. The importance of quadriceps and hamstring muscle loading on knee kinematics and in-situ forces in the ACL. J Biomech. 1999;32(4):395–400. DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9290(98)00181-x
  41. Withrow TJ, Huston LJ, Wojtys EM, Ashton-Miller JA. The relationship between quadriceps muscle force, knee flexion, and anterior cruciate ligament strain in an in vitro simulated jump landing. Am J Sports Med. 2006;34(2):269–74. DOI: 10.1177/0363546505280906
  42. Withrow TJ, Huston LJ, Wojtys EM, Ashton-Miller JA. Effect of varying hamstring tension on anterior cruciate ligament strain during in vitro impulsive knee flexion and compression loading. JBJS. 2008;90(4):815–23. DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.F.01352
Journal of Advanced Sport Technology
Volume 9, Issue 4
December 2025
Pages 48-60

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 17 May 2024
  • Revise Date: 06 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 03 January 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics