Title: Specific changes on feet of rhythmic gymnasts and possibilities of physiotherapeutic influence of the feet with the help of a movement program Objectives: An objective of the thesis is to assess a function and specific changes on feet of rhythmic gymnasts and to demonstrate a positive influence of a movement program on these changes and the deteriorated function of the foot. To summarize the results of existing studies focused on influencing of proper function of the foot and to gain useful information from this experiment not only for physiotherapists, trainers and modern gymnasts but also for laical, actively sporting public which exhibit the same issues with the foot area Methods: The main essence of this scientific-research quantitative study is an influencing of deteriorated function and specific changes on feet of rhythmic gymnasts with the help of a movement program. The program was performed after each practice (i.e. 4 times a week) through the course of 3 months. 10 probands in the age from 14 to 17 years participated in the program. The experiment was based on the method of a comparison of 2 questionnaires and an entrance and exit kinesiological analysis, the part of which was also a test according to Véle (with visual control/without visual control) and a plantogram. For their...

Title: The effect of flat feet on the stability of the ankle joint of floorball players. Objectives: The main aim of this thesis is to determine whether a flat feet has any effects on the floorball players' ankle joint stability. Furthermore, the thesis focuses on the chronic ankle instability, other leg pathologies and on the options of therapeutic interventions. Eventually, the thesis provides summary and output data for physiotherapist, sport couches and the examined players. Methods: First a literature study was conducted to establish a theoretical framework. Based on the feature/aspect examination of longitudinal foot arching and an initial questionnaire 10 particular subjects aged 22 to 29 were selected, all of them form the TJ Tatran Střešovice team. The subjects were divided in 2 groups - with longitudinal flat feet and without longitudinal flat feet pathology. The examined subjects were scored with negative points according to occurrence of any pathologies. Both groups were also benchmarked in the Star Excursion Balance Test that determined feet dynamic stability index. Results: The examination proved that flat feet affects the stability of the ankle joint as the subjects of the group without longitudinal flat feet scored results that were 31% better than results of the subjects with...

Title: Effect of constitutional hypermobility, obesity and the condition of the foot arch on the results of the Véle test of primary school children Objektives: The aim of my study was to establish whether the foot arch, scope of joint mobility and body weight affects the postural stability of primary school children. Another aim was to compare the incidence of functional flatfoot, constitutional hypermobility and obesity or overweight among school age children. Methods: The data were processed from selected primary schools in Prague 6. In total participed 854 children 7 - 12 years old. The used methods were common and accessible physiotherapy methods. The stability was evaluated according Véle test. Flat foot was examined aspection in standing, assessment of flexibility was performed while standing on tiptoes. Hypermoblity was determined using test according to Janda and body weight was determined by body mass index. Data were evaluated in Microsoft Office Excel. Results: We found that the evaluation of the Véle test better performance girls than boys. Rigid flat foot was more common in pupils of 2nd class, functional flat foot in pupils of 6th class. Constitutional hypermobility suffer more girls 2nd class, overweight or obese suffer more girls of 6th class. We found that functional flat foot has...

In children, joint hypermobility (typified by structural instability of joints) manifests clinically as neuro-muscular and musculo-skeletal conditions and conditions associated with development and organization of control of posture and gait (Finkelstein, 1916; Jahss, 1919; Sobel, 1926; Larsson, Mudholkar, Baum and Srivastava, 1995; Murray and Woo, 2001; Hakim and Grahame, 2003; Adib, Davies, Grahame, Woo and Murray, 2005:). The process of control of the relative proportions of joint mobility and stability, whilst maintaining equilibrium in standing posture and gait, is dependent upon the complex interrelationship between skeletal, muscular and neurological function (Massion, 1998; Gurfinkel, Ivanenko, Levik and Babakova, 1995; Shumway-Cook and Woollacott, 1995). The efficiency of this relies upon the integrity of neuro-muscular and musculo-skeletal components (ligaments, muscles, nerves), and the Central Nervous System’s capacity to interpret, process and integrate sensory information from visual, vestibular and proprioceptive sources (Crotts, Thompson, Nahom, Ryan and Newton, 1996; Riemann, Guskiewicz and Shields, 1999; Schmitz and Arnold, 1998) and development and incorporation of this into a representational scheme (postural reference frame) of body orientation with respect to internal and external environments (Gurfinkel et al., 1995; Roll and Roll, 1988). Sensory information from the base of support (feet) makes significant contribution to the development of reference frameworks (Kavounoudias, Roll and Roll, 1998). Problems with the structure and/ or function of any one, or combination of these components or systems, may result in partial loss of equilibrium and, therefore ineffectiveness or significant reduction in the capacity to interact with the environment, which may result in disability and/ or injury (Crotts et al., 1996; Rozzi, Lephart, Sterner and Kuligowski, 1999b). Whilst literature focusing upon clinical associations between joint hypermobility and conditions requiring therapeutic intervention has been abundant (Crego and Ford, 1952; Powell and Cantab, 1983; Dockery, in Jay, 1999; Grahame, 1971; Childs, 1986; Barton, Bird, Lindsay, Newton and Wright, 1995a; Rozzi, et al., 1999b; Kerr, Macmillan, Uttley and Luqmani, 2000; Grahame, 2001), there has been a deficit in controlled studies in which the neuro-muscular and musculo-skeletal characteristics of children with joint hypermobility have been quantified and considered within the context of organization of postural control in standing balance and gait. This was the aim of this project, undertaken as three studies. The major study (Study One) compared the fundamental neuro-muscular and musculo-skeletal characteristics of 15 children with joint hypermobility, and 15 age (8 and 9 years), gender, height and weight matched non-hypermobile controls. Significant differences were identified between previously undiagnosed hypermobile (n=15) and non-hypermobile children (n=15) in passive joint ranges of motion of the lower limbs and lumbar spine, muscle tone of the lower leg and foot, barefoot CoP displacement and in parameters of barefoot gait. Clinically relevant differences were also noted in barefoot single leg balance time. There were no differences between groups in isometric muscle strength in ankle dorsiflexion, knee flexion or extension. The second comparative study investigated foot morphology in non-weight bearing and weight bearing load conditions of the same children with and without joint hypermobility using three dimensional images (plaster casts) of their feet. The preliminary phase of this study evaluated the casting technique against direct measures of foot length, forefoot width, RCSP and forefoot to rearfoot angle. Results indicated accurate representation of elementary foot morphology within the plaster images. The comparative study examined the between and within group differences in measures of foot length and width, and in measures above the support surface (heel inclination angle, forefoot to rearfoot angle, normalized arch height, height of the widest point of the heel) in the two load conditions. Results of measures from plaster images identified that hypermobile children have different barefoot weight bearing foot morphology above the support surface than non-hypermobile children, despite no differences in measures of foot length or width. Based upon the differences in components of control of posture and gait in the hypermobile group, identified in Study One and Study Two, the final study (Study Three), using the same subjects, tested the immediate effect of specifically designed custom-made foot orthoses upon balance and gait of hypermobile children. The design of the orthoses was evaluated against the direct measures and the measures from plaster images of the feet. This ascertained the differences in morphology of the modified casts used to mould the orthoses and the original image of the foot. The orthoses were fitted into standardized running shoes. The effect of the shoe alone was tested upon the non-hypermobile children as the non-therapeutic equivalent condition. Immediate improvement in balance was noted in single leg stance and CoP displacement in the hypermobile group together with significant immediate improvement in the percentage of gait phases and in the percentage of the gait cycle at which maximum plantar flexion of the ankle occurred in gait. The neuro-muscular and musculo-skeletal characteristics of children with joint hypermobility are different from those of non-hypermobile children. The Beighton, Solomon and Soskolne (1973) screening criteria successfully classified joint hypermobility in children. As a result of this study joint hypermobility has been identified as a variable which must be controlled in studies of foot morphology and function in children. The outcomes of this study provide a basis upon which to further explore the association between joint hypermobility and neuro-muscular and musculo-skeletal conditions, and, have relevance for the physical education of children with joint hypermobility, for footwear and orthotic design processes, and, in particular, for clinical identification and treatment of children with joint hypermobility.