PREVALENCE OF FLEXIBLE FLAT FEET AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH BODY MASS INDEX AMONG YOUNG ADULTS OF MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY: A PRELIMINARY CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Flexible flat feet, a common yet often unnoticed condition, have been a topic of recent research. However, the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and flexible flat feet in adults remains unclear, with conflicting findings in the literature. This study aims to explore the association between BMI and flexible flat feet among young adults.

Methodolgy: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 190 university students. Flexible flat feet were assessed using the navicular drop test and Jack’s toe-raise test, while BMI was calculated from measured weight and height. Data were analysed using Fisher’s exact test to assess the association between BMI categories and flat feet.

Results: The relationship between flexible flat feet (right, left, and bilateral) and BMI was analysed using chi-square tests, revealing no significant associations. Right flexible flat feet (?²(3) = 4.292, p = 0.222) and left flexible flat feet (?²(3) = 6.200, p = 0.093) showed moderate effect sizes (0.587 and 0.794, respectively), while bilateral flexible flat feet (?²(3) = 1.318, p = 0.758) had a small effect size (-0.404).

Conclusion: This study found no significant relationship between BMI and flexible flat feet among young adults. Differences in results compared to paediatric studies highlight the need for age-specific investigations. Future studies with larger, probabilistic samples are recommended to validate these findings.