Effects of Physical Activity on Foot Characteristics and Plantar Pressure Distribution among College Students

The aim of this study was to find the effects of physical activity on foot characteristics and plantar pressure distribution. The objective is to determine the effects of physical activity on plantar pressure distribution and to determine the effects of physical activity on foot characteristics. N=100 individuals were evaluated for their physical activity level and plantar pressure distribution. Interventions were given in the form of questionnaire that was taken from 100 subjects with their dominant foot imprint while in dynamic motion and their FPI was also measured and gait velocity (4m) was recorded. To investigate data collected chi square test was used for the analysis. The results were significant for females gait velocity with FPI was significant (?2 =6.48) while the results were insignificant for males gait velocity with FPI(?2=2.33), and for 2nd, 3rd, 4th metatarsals phalangeal and 1st metatarsal with FPI were significant (?2 =16.42, ?2=15.82, ?2= 12.88, ?2=19.28 respectively) whereas 1st, 5th MTP and 2nd , 3rd , 4th, 5th MT and TC joint with FPI were insignificant (?2=9.72, ?2=11.99, ?2=11.96, ?2= 10.95,?2 =11.23, ?2=5.22, ?2= 11.30 respectively and GPPAQ with FPI was insignificant (?2= 6.06). In the present study, out of 100 subjects, 72% subjects were physically inactive whereas only 28% were physically active. Out of 100 subjects, 55% had normal followed by 31% had pronated and 14% had supinated foot posture. No significant association was seen between different type of foot postures with physical activity level. Significant association was found between plantar pressure exerted at 2nd, 3rd & 4th metatarsal phalangeal joint and 1ST MT metatarsal with foot posture. Significant association was found in gait velocity and foot posture in females whereas in males it was insignificant.