Abstract
Background
In women, the laxity of the plantar fascia increases during the ovulation phase of
the menstrual cycle. Although it is possible that this increased laxity results in
a decreased height of the foot in the medial longitudinal arch and exacerbates symptoms
of several overuse injuries of the lower extremity, the influence of the menstrual
cycle on static and dynamic kinematics of the medial longitudinal arch is unclear.
The purpose of this study was to confirm that the medial longitudinal arch height
during static standing, gait, and landing decrease during the menstrual cycle ovulation
phase.
Methods
Participants in this study were 16 female college students with normal menstrual cycles
and 16 male college students. Navicular height in the static standing position was
measured using a three-dimensional foot scanner. Kinematics of the medial longitudinal
arch during gait and landing were measured using a three-dimensional motion capture
system to determine the navicular height at initial contact, minimal navicular height,
and dynamic navicular drop. In all measurements, female participants were tested twice
during the course of one complete menstrual cycle: once during the follicular phase
and once during the ovulation phase. Male participants were tested twice with an interval
of ≥1 week and <2 weeks.
Results
In women, navicular height in the static standing position significantly decreased
during the ovulation phase compared with follicular phase (mean difference [95% confidence
interval] = 2.1 [0.9–3.4] mm; p = 0.002), whereas men showed no statistical difference
between the first and second measurements. In both men and women, no statistical differences
were identified for the dynamic medial longitudinal arch kinematics measured during
gait and landing.
Conclusions
Navicular height in the static standing position slightly decreased during the ovulation
phase.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 07, 2023
Accepted:
January 18,
2023
Received in revised form:
January 18,
2023
Received:
September 30,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 The Japanese Orthopaedic Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
