Assessment of Plantar Arch Index and Prevalence of Flat Foot among Adult Ikwerre Residing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Feet abnormality such as flat foot resulting from the collapse of the arches of the foot is of great clinical and anatomical importance. The aim of this study was to assess the plantar arch index and determine the prevalence of flat foot among adult Ikwerre residing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria. A total of 100 subjects consisting of 50 males and 50 females were recruited for this study. The bilateral foot prints of the subjects were obtained using stamping ink and A4 plain papers. Convenience sampling technique was used in collecting samples. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS version 23) and Microsoft Office Excel 2019. Staheli's plantar arch index method was adopted and the presence of flat foot was identified from the data collected by calculating the plantar arch index (PAI). If the value of PAI is >1.15, it is considered as flat foot. The result showed that the right plantar arch index of male participants was significantly higher than that of the left. About 4% flat foot on the right feet and 6%flat foot on the left feet were observed in males while no flat foot was recorded in right foot and 10% flat foot on the left foot were recorded in females. The findings in the study suggest a higher prevalence of flat feet in left foot than the right foot with females having higher rate of left flat foot than the males.