Immediate and Four-Week Effects of Sensorimotor (SMFO) and Biomechanical (BMFO) Foot Orthoses on Rearfoot Angle in Children with Pes Planovaglus. A Randomize

Background/Objectives: Pes planovalgus is one of the most common misalignments in children. In this study the established biomechanical foot orthoses (BMFO) are being compared with a more recent treatment: sensorimotor foot orthoses (SMFO). SMFO are a more recent treatment and aim to correct malalignment by specifically modulating muscle activity rather than relying solely on passive mechanical support, as is the case with BMFO. Methods: Thirty-two children and adolescents aged six to six-teen participated in this study. After randomized group allocation, the rearfoot angle was analyzed by two-dimensional gait analysis in the SMFO-group (n=18) and the BMFO group (n=14) under three conditions: without foot orthoses (baseline), with foot orthoses (immediate) and after four weeks of use. Results: (1) SMFO and BMFO significantly improved the rearfoot angle immediately after application, (2) the achieved correction was maintained over four weeks in both groups, and (3) despite baseline differences, the superior rate of improvement in the SMFO-group resulted in comparable rearfoot alignment between SMFO and BMFO at the four-week follow-up. Conclusions: Based on the results, it can be concluded that SMFO and BMFO are comparable methods for treating pes planovalgus in children and adolescents.