Childhood obesity and its impact on the characteristics of gait stance phases: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to investigate the variations in foot type, laxity, dynamic characteristics of gait, and the characteristics of the stance phase of gait, in relation to body mass index (BMI) and groups of children of different ages. Additionally, it aimed to explore the correlations between BMI and these variables across children groups of different ages. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 196 infants aged between 5 and 10 years old. The variables assessed included BMI, foot type, laxity, dynamic variables, and characteristics of the stance phase of gait. Significant variations were observed in foot type, laxity, certain dynamic variables, and characteristics of the stance phase of gait between normoweight (NW) and overweight/obese (OW/OB) groups among children aged between 5 and 10 years old (p ranged between 0.019 and 0.050). Moreover, BMI was also positively associated with the initial forefoot contact, heel off, total duration of the step, and forefoot contact phase of children 7 to 10 years of age (p ranged between < 0.010 and 0.040).   Conclusion: Children who are OW/OB had alterations at different stages of gait. Being OW/OB is related to alterations of the phases of gait mainly from 7 to 10 years of age, and spending more time in each of the phases of walking. This could indicate that children who are OW/OB, in addition to walking slower, overload the musculoskeletal system, subjecting their joints and muscles to greater stress. What is Known: • Children who are overweight (OW) and obese (OB) can experience changes in their musculoskeletal systems, posture, and gait due to increased body mass index. • OW and OB children experience additional stress on their musculoskeletal systems, impacting posture, biomechanics, mobility, physical activity, and daily tasks. Excessive plantar loading is linked to foot pain in adults. What is New: • Body mass index was positively associated with initial forefoot contact, heel off, total duration of the step, and forefoot contact phase in children aged 7 to 10 years old. OW/OB children aged 5-6 exhibited less ankle dorsiflexion and smaller relaxed calcaneal stance position (RCSP) as compared to normal-weight children. • Obese children aged 5-6 showed less pronation excursion, suggesting altered frontal plane movement due to RCSP differences. Children aged 7-8 who are OW/OB spent more time in certain gait phases, particularly in the forefoot contact phase. Being OW/OB is linked to altered gait parameters such as initial forefoot, heel off, total step duration, and forefoot contact phase. Being OW/OB was associated with a longer forefoot contact phase, particularly in the right foot.

Overweight and Obesity: Its Impact on Foot Type, Flexibility, Foot Strength, Plantar Pressure and Stability in Children from 5 to 10 Years of Age: Descriptive Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Overweight (OW) and childhood obesity (OB) may cause foot problems and affect one's ability to perform physical activities. The study aimed to analyze the differences in descriptive characteristics, foot type, laxity, foot strength, and baropodometric variables by body mass status and age groups in children and, secondly, to analyze the associations of the BMI with different physical variables by age groups in children. METHODS: A descriptive observational study involving 196 children aged 5-10 years was conducted. The variables used were: type of foot, flexibility, foot strength and baropodometric analysis of plantar pressures, and stability by pressure platform. RESULTS: Most of the foot strength variables showed significant differences between the normal weight (NW), OW and OB groups in children aged between 5 and 8. The OW and OB groups showed the highest level of foot strength. In addition, the linear regression analyses showed, in children aged 5 to 8 years, a positive association between BMI and foot strength (the higher the BMI, the greater the strength) and negative association between BMI and stability (lower BMI, greater instability). CONCLUSIONS: Children from 5 to 8 years of age with OW and OB show greater levels of foot strength, and OW and OB children from 7 to 8 years are more stable in terms of static stabilometrics. Furthermore, between 5 and 8 years, having OW and OB implies having more strength and static stability.

Stability of Three Different Sanitary Shoes on Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The main purpose of this research was to determine the stability of three different sanitary shoes on nurses with eyes open and closed with respect to barefoot condition. In addition, the secondary aim was to determine the reliability of stability measurements under these different conditions. METHODS: A crossover quasi-experimental study (NCT03764332) was performed. Twenty-six nurses who wore different sanitary shoes (Eva Plus Ultralight®, Gym Step® and Milan-SCL Liso®) were evaluated with respect to barefoot condition for stability measures on the Podoprint® podobarometric and stabilometry tool and with eyes open and closed. Furthermore, the reliability of stability measurements was determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) under these different conditions. RESULTS: Between-groups comparisons of the static and stabilometry podobarometric data with eyes open showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Milan-SCL Liso® sanitary shoes improved podobarometric data of forefoot force and distribution with respect to barefoot condition. Eva Plus Ultralight® and Gym Step® sanitary shoes increased the stroke length mean, stroke surface mean, and anterior speed mean as well as reduced y axis displacement mean with respect to barefoot condition. Similar findings were determined for measurements with eyes closed. ICCs ranged from poor to excellent reliability (ICC = 0.010-0.995). CONCLUSIONS: Sanitary shoes improved podobarometric and stabilometry stability with respect to barefoot condition.

Temas valorados críticamente: un aprendizaje basado en la evidencia / No disponible

En la práctica clínica diaria, se nos plantean dudasconstantes sobre la etiología, diagnóstico, tratamientoo pronóstico de las distintas afecciones de los piesde nuestros pacientes. Para resolver estas dudas,proponemos utilizar los Temas Valorados Críticamente,del inglés Critical Appraisal Topic. Aunqueesta metodología requiere de un esfuerzo mayorque el que requiere solventar dudas mediante otrosmétodos, sigue una sistemática de trabajo basada enla Medicina Basada en la Evidencia, la cual le otorgauna gran validez. Los Temas Valorados Críticamenteson documentos en forma de resumen breve de laspruebas científicas más relevantes, en relación a unapregunta clínica específica. Mediante este métodose intenta formular preguntas correctas, surgidasdurante la práctica clínica diaria, para buscar lamejor evidencia disponible, una vez encontrada seorganiza, resume, integra y se lleva a la práctica.Dando respuesta, en tiempo real, a cuestiones quesurgen durante la práctica diaria, facilitando elproceso de toma de decisiones(AU)

In the daily clinical practice, constant doubts appearon the etiology, diagnosis, treatment or predictionof the different affections of the feet of our patients.To solve these doubts, we propose to use the CriticalAppraisal Topic. Though this methodology needsof a major effort that the one that it needs to settledoubts by means of other methods, follows the systematicalone of work based on the Evidence BasedMedicine, which grants a great validity to him. TheTopics Valued Critically are documents in the shapeof brief summary of the most relevant scientifictests, in relation to a clinical specific question. Bymeans of this method one tries to formulate correctquestions arisen during the clinical daily practice, tolook for the best available evidence, once opposingone organizes, summarizes, integrates and removesto the practice. Giving response, in real time, toquestions that arise during the daily practice, facilitatingthe process of capture of decisions(AU)