Evaluation of functional foot disorders in healtcare proffesionals clinically, pedobarographically and with functional scales and effects of home exerci̇se program

Objectives: The purpose of our study is to evaluate foot pain in hospital personnel working in a sitting and standing position for long hours clinically, functionally and pedobarogrphically and also to investigate effectiveness of home exercise program on foot pain. Methods: Our study included 100 hospital personnel (nurses, secretaries and cleaning staff), aged from 22 to 54, works at Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital and suffering from foot pain. 100 hospital personnel divided into 2 groups. First group consists of 50 hospital personnel work in a sitting position and second group consists 50 hospital personnel work in a standing position. Both groups were applied home exercise program. Physical (height, weight, body mass index), anthropometric and demographic measurements were noted in both groups. Each person in the study also evaluated with Food Posture Index, Visual Analog Scale, Beck's Depression Inventory, Foot&Foot Ankle Disability Index and Quality of Life Questionnaire Scoring (SF-36). Foot ankle range of motion measurements (dorsiflexionplantar flexion and inversion-eversion) obtained with inclinometer. Manual muscle testing (dorsiflexion-plantar flexion, inversion-eversion) performed to assess foot ankle muscle strenght. After 3 month home exercise program each person in the study was re-examined and results were noted. Results: After home exercise program; improvements obtained on VAS scoring, subgroups of SF-36 scoring and FADI scoring in both groups (p<0,05). There were improvement on Beck's Depression Scale for personnel works in a sitting position (p:0,019). After home exercise program; joint range of motion values increased and especially plantar flexion and dorsiflexion improved significantly in both groups (p<0,05). After exercise there were no significant difference on plantar dynamic maximum pressure values for both groups. After exercise; significant central forefoot static pressure decrease found in hospital personnel working in a standing position(p: 0,028, p: 0,029, for right and left foot respectively) but there were no significant pressure loss in hospital personnel working in a sitting position. Conclusions: Foot pain is a musculoskeletal system symptom encountered frequently among hospital personnel. After 3 month home exercise program; significant improvements found on VAS scoring, FADI scoring and subgroups of SF-36 scoring in hospital personnel working in both sitting and standing positions.