Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation among the navicular drop test, the arch angle, the Staheli index and the Chippaux-Smirak index. The reliability and the correlation among the footprint parameters were also estimated.

Methods: A cross-sectional study (n = 86; 59.3% women; 27.8 years, standard deviation: 4.8 years) was carried out. The navicular drop test was evaluated and footprint parameters using a plantar pressure platform were recorded in the dominant foot. Pearson correlation coefficients, intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, and minimum detectable change were calculated.

Results: Both intrarater and interrater reliability were excellent for all the parameters evaluated (intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.880). Statistically significant correlations existed between the navicular drop test and footprints parameters (arch angle = 0,643; Staheli index = 0.633; Chippaux-Smirak index = 0.614). The footprint parameters had excellent correlation with each other (0.838-0.881). The navicular drop test and the footprint parameters studied were reproducible and thus had excellent reliability.

Conclusion: The correlations obtained between the navicular drop test and the footprint parameters evaluated were good. The navicular drop test appears to be a reproducible, valid, and simple test for evaluating medial longitudinal arch height, having fewer disadvantages than using footprint parameters.

Author keywords: Data Accuracy, Foot, Reproducibility of Results

Author affiliations: JCZ-E, CBM-C, JAM-U: Physical Therapy Department, San Pablo CEU University, Madrid, Spain; 
AG-C: Physical Therapy Department, Murcia University, Murcia, Spain

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; full text is available by subscription. Click on the above link and select a publisher from PubMed's LinkOut feature.