Correlation Between Physical Activity Level and Flatfoot’s Degree in Individual with Intellectual Disabilities and Obesity: Comparison Between Athletes and Non-Athletes

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Increasing incident of obesity was also in the population of intellectual disability (ID). Some of them are an athlete.  The research aims to assess the relationship between level of physical activity and the degree of flatfoot on individual with intellectual disability and obesity. This research also provide data on the prevalence and degree of flatfoot.

Method: This research was using analytic observational method in cross-sectional studies in groups of athletes and non-athletes with a total of 68 subjects. The data collected between July 2021 to October 2022. The data included subject characteristics, daily activities that converted to metabolic equivalent (MET) score of physical activity level (PAL), BMI, and footprints using the Harris Mat. The clinical outcomes were analysed using Spearman, Man Whitney, and Fisher’s exact test.

Result: Flatfoot occurred in 97% of the samples based on Viladot criteria. All the non-athlete group had flatfoot and more severe degree of flatfoot, and there were 2 individuals with normal feet in the athlete group. There was relationship between the degree of flatfoot in special athlete - obesity groups and gender. No relationship between the degree of flatfoot in both groups with age, degree of intellectual disability, degree of obesity and PAL, type of sport or duration of active as an athlete.

Conclusion: There is no relationship between the degree of flatfoot and the PAL in the athlete and non-athlete groups of intellectual disability and obesity.

Keywords:  flatfoot, physical activity level, intellectual disability, obesity, special athlete