Evaluation of the long-term effect of physiotherapy on degree of hallux valgus an-gle in standing position and foot load during walking in individuals with hallux valgus.

Abstrakt

Starting point: Hallux valgus affects the physiological loading of the foot during walking. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effect of physiotherapeutic intervention on the degree of hallux valgus angle in standing and foot load during walking in individuals with hallux valgus.

Group: The study included 9 female participants (age 41.9±2.3 years; height 169.6±5.8 cm; weight 71.8±16.7 kg; hallux valgus angle 37.8±11.6°) which had no history of lower limb injuries or other serious medical conditions.

Methods: The measurements were taken before the physiotherapeutic intervention, after ten therapy sessions, and three months after the therapy ended. A goniometer was used to evaluate the hallux valgus angle under load during standing with the feet placed hip-width apart. The foot load during walking was assessed using a dynamic treadmill, h/p/cosmos® Rehawalk®, with zebris software. Therapy sessions were conducted once a week for a total of ten sessions, with additional exercises performed individually at home according to the therapist's instructions.

Results: After the intervention and three months post-intervention, there was a significant reduction in the hallux valgus angle in standing compared to the initial measurement. During walking, there was significantly higher force loading on the rearfoot during weightbearing following initial contact, and on the forefoot during toe-off.

Conclusions: Therapy aimed at re-educating foot function and involving hallux in the physiological walking pattern optimized the position of the hallux and supported functional stabilization of the first ray during foot roll-off and propulsion during walking in the observed group of participants.