Biomechanical effects on the discomfort feeling, weight bearing and posture on the healthy individuals of the different foot positions in sitting

Aim: This study was planned to evaluate the discomfort of different foot positions in sitting healthy individuals, weight transfer and biomechanical effects on posture. Material and Method: 30 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18-25 were included in the study. After demographic information was obtained, individuals' muscle strength, posture analysis, core strength were evaluated. Individuals were taken from 6 different foot positions to the sitting position to be tested and asked to keep their spine and head upright, before the 30-minute waiting period started, modified functional reach test, weight transfer and discomfort were evaluated. In order to evaluate the spine and pelvic tilt angle of the individuals, images from the lateral, thoracic 12th vertebra level were recorded. During the waiting period, the time when the discomfort first increased and the discomfort were reassessed. Thirty minutes, weight transfer and discomfort were evaluated respectively, the lateral view was recorded and the modified functional reach test was repeated. Results: The study was completed with a total of 30 (13 women, 17 men) healthy volunteers with an average age of 22.63 ± 2.14. While no significant differences were observed between the cervical, thoracic, lumbal, pelvic tilt angles, functional reach distances measured at the start and 30th minutes of the foot positions determined in the sitting position (p <0.05), significant differences were found between the groups in terms of discomfort and weight transfer (p <0.05). Statistically significant differences in spinal angles and pelvic tilt angle, functional reach distances, discomfort and weight transfer were found in all foot positions compared to baseline at the 30th minute (p <0.05). Conclusion: It was found that sitting in different foot positions for thirty minutes without external support in healthy individuals increased the discomfort of the individuals, negatively affects posture and sitting balance, and increased weight transfer to the feet. It was found with the changing posture. In addition, it was found that postural impairment and weakness of muscle strength caused more deviations in the cervical and thoracic region than physiological curvature in all foot positions, and the feeling of discomfort increased in these cases. Considering that a sedentary lifestyle is inevitable with technological developments, we think that our study will contribute to the science of physiotherapy in the examination, prevention or correction of postural disorders of long-term individuals. Therefore, considering the serious effects of sitting for a long time on spine biomechanics, our study offers important results in terms of the importance of normal posture. Our study shed light on a serious deficiency and weak standardization in the literature and revealed the difference in perceived body discomfort in the foot positions. Also; As the first study in this field, it brings a different perspective to both clinical and literature. Key words: Foot, Biomecanics, Posture, Discomfort, Sitting