---

Background: Flexible flat foot is a congenital common deformity in lower extremity associated with ligamentus laxity. This deformity may cause hammer toe, heel spur, inflammation of achille tendon, early muscle fatigue during sport, foot imbalance and pain in leg, knee and hip. The use of insole with medial arch support considered as one of the common treatments for patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a composite insole, Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) with Poron layer on ground reaction force on subjects with flexible flat foot in comparison with common EVA insole.

Materials and Methods: Fifty two subjects (14 Male and 38 female) between 18-40 years of age with flexible flat foot participated in this study. Twenty six subjects received Poron insole (EVA with Poron layer) and 26 subjects received common EVA insole. After assessment each subject asked to walk with normal speed across two force plate in two conditions, walking with insole and shoe and walking without insole. Then each subject asked to use insole for forty hours during two weeks. Vertical ground reaction force in the first session and after two weeks was assessed.

Results: Impact force and first peak of vertical ground reaction force (F₁) with Poron insole in comparison with shoe significantly increased in second session (P<0.05). The second peak (F₃) with common insole in comparison with shoe significantly increased in second session (P<0.05). Significant reduction was noted in first peak (F1) with common insole in second session in comparison with first session (P<0.05). There was no observable significant difference in two groups before and after intervention.

Conclusion: The results of this preliminary study show that both insoles change vertical ground reaction force in comparison with shoe alone. But using a composite Poron Layer on EVA insole has not demonstrated a significant difference with common arch support insoles. Therefore application of Poron Silicon layer on EVA insole by itself can not show a significant reduction of ground reaction force.

---

Background and aim: One of the common problems in elderly people is falling. The effort to identify environmental risk factors at home and their modifications may control falls and injury in the elderly. Home FAST as a valid and reliable screening tool is used to identify elderly at risk of falling at home and in society.
Materials and methods : International quality of life assessment (IQOLA) was used for validity and reliability of Home fast. After forward and backward translation , the questionnaire was evaluated for content validity by 5 occupational therapists. Sixty participants aged over 65 were randomly selected through five geographical regions of Tehran. Inter-rater and test-retest with one week interval were conducted by two occupational therapists.
Results: Agreement among experts about the validity of screening tool of Home FAST (χ²= 25.008) were more than 96%.The correlations of test-retest with relative and absolute coefficients were high (ICC = 0.72 and SEM = 0.89). Also, the correlation coefficients between the raters with absolute and relative (ICC = 0.88 and SEM = 0.54) were significant, indicating the high reliability of this test.
Conclusion: This study shows the reliability and validity of the test are high. Since, test items are conformable to fall prevention goals, these results can be expected. The tool can be used by professionals.

---

Background and Aim: The effects of lateral wedge insole with and without sub-talar strap on pain, arthritic symptoms, functional performance, sports and recreational activities, and knee related quality of life in patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis were compared.

Materials and Methods: Community-dwelling men and women aged over 40 years with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis, grades I or II based on Kellgrene and Lawrence grading system were participated in this study. They were randomly allocated in two different groups lateral wedge insole with and without sub-talar strap. Both groups were required to wear the insoles at home for the duration of four weeks, approximately 5 to 10 hours per day. Participants were asked to complete the Farsi version of Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire at baseline and at follow-up. The reliability of KOOS for measuring short term and long term symptoms and function in Iranian patients with knee injuries and osteoarthritis has been reported previously.

Results: The changes in KOOS subscales were significantly different in both groups over time. Contrary to our hypothesis, the interaction effect was significant between the two groups following our intervention in terms of symptoms, daily living functions, sports and recreational activities, and knee related quality of life, unless pain score. 

Conclusion: The result of this study suggests that both of the insoles improved pain, symptoms, function in daily living, sports and recreation activities and knee related quality of life in patients with mild medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. However, use of sub-talar strap with lateral wedge insole would be the better prescription for insoles in these patients. 

 

---

Background and Aim: One of the most common complaints of gait disorders in children is intoeing gait. The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of gait plate insole on gait angle of intoed children.

  

Materials and Methods: Angle of gait was measured in 17 children aged 4 to 10 years with intoeing gait in 3 modalities: barefoot, ordinary shoes and gait plate insole with ordinary shoes for 3 times consecutively with Rs scan pressure platform.

 

Results: Gait plate insole with ordinary shoes as well as ordinary shoes alone caused a significant increase (p<0.05) in angle of gait in intoed children. As gait plate insole with ordinary shoes and ordinary shoes increase angle of gait 11.16 and 3.85 degrees respectively versus barefoot.

 

Conclusion: Use of gait plate insole in association with ordinary shoes can improve gait appearance in children with intoeing gait.

 

Keywords: Intoeing gait, Gait plate insole, Angle of gait, Gait angle