Strengthening the Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot and Its Action on Foot Posture and Self-Reported Function in Individuals With Lower Limb Injuries: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials
PubMed 39480362 · doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2024.08.014
What was done
Authors searched Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, PEDro, SportDiscus, and Cochrane up to April 2023 for clinical trials evaluating intrinsic foot muscle strengthening in patients with lower limb injuries and alterations in intrinsic foot musculature. Standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were pooled using a random-effects model to assess foot posture, biomechanical changes, and self-reported function.
What was found
From 1,051 identified records, 4 studies met inclusion criteria. Intrinsic foot musculature strengthening significantly improved medial longitudinal arch height in the meta-analysis (P < .00001). The abstract reported no numerical effect sizes, confidence intervals, or quantitative findings for self-reported function.
Why it matters
This review suggests targeted intrinsic foot muscle exercises can promote positive biomechanical changes in arch height during lower limb rehabilitation.
Limits
The review included only 4 studies, and the total participant count was not reported in the abstract. Numerical effect sizes, confidence intervals, specific injury types, and self-reported functional outcomes were omitted from the abstract, limiting direct evaluation of clinical significance.