The immediate Effect of Treatment on Muscle Tension in Pediatric Adolescents with Tiptoe Walking and Flat Foot

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of foot sole autofibular relaxation on muscle tension in children and adolescents exhibiting tiptoe walking and flat feet. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty patients with tiptoe walking and flat feet admitted to Hospital A in Seoul were enrolled in the study. The participants were evenly divided by sex and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=15) or a control group (n=15). Muscle tension in the gastrocnemius (lateral long head), hamstring, longissimus thoracis, and semispinalis capitis was measured using Myotone Pro device in a standing position. The experimental group underwent autofibular relaxation treatment on the dominant foot using a Balance Ball, whereas the control group did not receive any intervention. Muscle tension was re-measured 20 minutes after the initial assessment. Each session included three sets of foot sole exercises lasting five–seven minutes per set, with a one-minute break between the sets. The total intervention time per participant ranged from 20 to25 minutes. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in muscle tension, elasticity, and dynamic stiffness (p<0.05), with the experimental group achieving greater improvements than the control group (p<0.05). In the control group, significant changes were observed in most muscles, except for the left gastrocnemius and right semispinalis capitis. Conclusions: Foot-sole autofibular relaxation treatment immediately reduced muscle tension in children and adolescents with tiptoe walking and flat feet, demonstrating its potential as an effective clinical intervention to enhance functional activity.