USP Research shows a direct relationship between obesity and flatfoot

Research of the University of São Paulo (USP) showed that obesity is directly related to the planning of the foot - formation popularly known as flatfoot. The survey indicated that the majority of study participants suffered from pain in the foot and knee joints, which affected the ability to do activities of daily living, such as climbing and descending stairs, putting on shoes or hiking in places plans.

The survey was conducted with 81 patients classified as severely obese - with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 kilograms per square meter (kg / m²) and less than 50 kg / m² - or super obese (BMI greater than 50 kg / m²). They were on the waiting list for bariatric - surgery to reduce stomach - at the Hospital de Base Famerp.

We observed in X-ray analysis that 100% of subjects had flat foot. We check that had an association of obesity and superobesidade especially in relation to flat foot. The greater the degree of obesity in our population, the greater the degree of planning of the foot, ie, the greater the degree of pes planus, or flat feet, explains physiotherapist Luiz Sonia Maria Fabris, author of the doctoral thesis Impact of Two Levels Severe Obesity on osteoarticular changes and Functional Knee and Foot.

Participants were evaluated for age, weight and height, and then undergo specific tests. BMI is calculated from the person's weight divided by the square of height.

The research applied questionnaires for patients to know details about the symptoms related to the knee and the foot. Many of the patients referred to them gave up regular physical activity due to the pain they felt in the foot and the knee joint, which can contribute to a more sedentary lifestyle in this population, which further aggravates obesity.

The research also identified that 81.5% of individuals examined had some degree of ostioartrite - degenerative joint disease. However, it was not possible to establish a relationship between obesity and disease.

With information <i> Agency Brazil </ i>

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