Association between flatfoot and lower limb fatigue during daily activities among university students
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Background: Flatfoot is a frequent musculoskeletal problem, caused by the flattening of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. It may alter lower limb biomechanics and contribute to increased fatigue during daily activities. Objective: The objective of this study is to find the association between flatfoot and the level of lower limb fatigue experienced during daily activities among university students. Methodology: This cross-sectional study aimed to find the association between flatfoot and lower limb fatigue in 126 university students. Flatfoot severity was assessed using the Foot Posture Index-6, while fatigue was measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results: Overall, 126 University students participated in the study when classified by foot posture 28.6 % had mild flatfoot, 38.1 % had moderate flatfoot and 33.3 % had severe flatfoot. In terms of fatigue, 44.4 % indicated moderate fatigue, 26.2 % indicated severe fatigue, and 29.4 % indicated mild fatigue in the lower limb. A significant relationship between flatfoot and lower limb fatigue was found in the University students (χ² = 74.034, df = 4, p = 0.001) through the Chi-square test. Conclusion: Increased flatfoot severity was associated with higher levels of lower limb fatigue
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