Effects of foot-specific exercise with or without taping on navicular drop, foot posture, and plantar pressure: A randomized comparative trial.

BACKGROUND

Conservative interventions such as exercise and taping are used to improve foot posture and support the medial arch in flatfoot.

METHODS

This study is a prospective, randomized comparative study. Thirty-four individuals aged 18-25 with bilateral flatfoot were randomly assigned to the foot-specific exercise (FSE) group or the FSE with taping (FSE + T) group. Both groups completed an 8-week FSE approach. The FSE + T group performed Theraband® exercises followed by augmented low-Dye (ALD) taping, while the FSE group completed the same exercises without taping. Follow-up measurements were taken at week 12, one month after the exercise program. Assessments included the Navicular Drop Test (NDT), Foot Posture Index-6 (FPI-6), and static plantar pressure measurements at baseline, week 8, and week 12.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between the groups in FPI-6, NDT, or plantar pressure parameters. Both groups showed significant reductions in the API-6 and NDT values at weeks 8 and 12 compared to pre-intervention (p < 0.05). In the medial and lateral heel regions, significant increases in force, peak force, contact pressure, and peak contact pressure were observed at the 12th week compared to pre-intervention (p < 0.05). In the toe regions, significant reductions in force, peak force, contact area, contact pressure, and peak contact pressure were seen at weeks 8 and 12 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both the FSE approach and the combination of FSE with ALD taping similarly improved foot posture, reduced navicular drop, and influenced plantar pressure distribution, with effects maintained over a one-month follow-up.