European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ASSESSMENT OF PLANTAR ARCH INDEX AND PREVALENCE OF PES PLANUS -HEEL VALGUS AMONG INDIGENOUS OGONI MALE AND FEMALE (18-45 YEARS) RESIDING IN RIVERS STATE

Michael Omonkheoa Oyakhire*, Oladipo Gabriel Sunday, Ogbonda Mirabelle Chizarum and Samuel Rita Chinenye

ABSTRACT

Pes Planus, known as flat foot results commonly from collapsed or low medial longitudinal arch of the foot, a condition often seen in association with valgus deformity of the heel and plantar fasciitis. There has been no literature on flat foot incidence among indigenous people of Ogoni tribe. The research therefore aimed to assess Plantar arch index and prevalence of flat foot among Ogoni tribe ranging from 18 to 45 years of age, for the purpose of documentation. The study was conducted randomly on 145 subjects from Ogoni tribe using the convenience sampling technique. Footprints of all subjects were obtained using the simple ink method. Staheli's method was applied in calculating the Plantar arch index, where PAI = A/B. If the PAI is > than 1.15, then it is considered as a flatfoot. A total of 29.03% of the subjects had flatfoot among with a score of 20.78% unilateral for (males 5.48%, females: 5.4%) and 8.28% bilateral 4.11% (males: 4.17%, females 4.11%). The study showed that prevalence of flatfoot among Ogoni tribe is low and males appear to have a greater percentage than the females. Vagal deformity of the heel was not found in the sample studied.

Keywords: Flat, Arch, Foot, Plantar, Pes planus, Print.