Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41619205›Full record

ArticleJournal of foot and ankle research2026

Foot Progression Angle Modulates Three-Dimensional Lower-Limb Biomechanics in Flexible Flatfoot: Kinematic-Kinetic Patterns and Clinical Implications.

Linxiao Shen, Dong Sun, Yufei Fang, Zhenghui Lu, Xin Li, Yufan Xu, Yang Song, Chengyuan Zhu, Xuanzhen Cen, Gusztáv Fekete and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of foot and ankle research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Linxiao ShenFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Dong SunFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7634-5668
Yufei FangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, China.
Zhenghui LuFaculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7705-8134
Xin LiFaculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary.
Yufan XuFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Yang SongFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Chengyuan ZhuFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Xuanzhen CenFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Gusztáv FeketeFaculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary.
Monèm JemniFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Yaodong GuFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2187-9440

Funding

K. C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo UniversityNational Key R&D Program of China 2024YFC3607305Ningbo Clinical Research Center for Orthopedics and Exercise Rehabilitation No.2024L004Ningbo Key Research and Development Program 2022Z196Research Academy of Medicine Combining Sports, Ningbo No.2023001Scientific Research Fund of Zhejiang Provincial Education Department Y202559510Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for New Technologies and Applications of Helium-Free Magnetic Resonance Imaging Open Fund Project 2024 2024GCPY02, 2024GCPY06Zhejiang Province Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars LR22A020002Zhejiang Provincial Key Project of Education Science Planning 2025SB084Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Association Scientific Research Special Fund ZKKY2023001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFoot progression angle affects gait and lowerlimb alignment. Altered angles may increase knee and ankle loading and produce tissue loading patterns previously linked to musculoskeletal injury. This study investigates how different foot progression angles modify knee and ankle biomechanics in young adults with flexible flatfoot.

methods28 participants (aged 18-35 years) with flexible flatfoot completed gait trials under three foot progression angle conditions. Kinematic and kinetic variables were analyzed using one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping. A 1D convolutional neural network was applied to classify progression angle patterns based on flexible flatfoot severity and gait biomechanics.

resultsDecreasing foot progression angle reduced the ankle eversion/inversion range and knee abduction and external rotation (p < 0.05). Increasing foot progression angle lowered early stance ankle plantarflexion and increased knee abduction/external rotation (p < 0.05). Kinetically, a smaller foot progression angle reduced peak ankle plantarflexion moment and knee extension moment but increased the first peak of the knee adduction moment and rotational moment fluctuations (p < 0.05). A larger foot progression angle reduced rotational fluctuations and terminal stance knee extension moment (p < 0.05). The convolutional neural network model was most accurate for moderate flexible flatfoot cases, and ankle coronal and knee transverse biomechanics showed the strongest discriminative power.

conclusionModifying the foot progression angle can meaningfully alter knee and ankle loading in young adults with flexible flatfoot. Neutral or mild toe-in angles may help mitigate excessive eversion and rotational stress, suggesting a simple noninvasive adjustment that clinicians can incorporate during gait retraining or orthotic prescription. Because biomechanical responses vary across individuals, FPA modification may be the most effective when tailored to patient-specific gait characteristics. In addition, deep-learning-based gait classification shows promise for supporting personalized monitoring and guiding clinical decision-making during rehabilitation.

Indexed as

FlatfootFootGaitLower ExtremityAdolescentAdultAnkle JointBiomechanical PhenomenaConvolutional Neural NetworksFemaleHumansKnee JointMaleRange of Motion, ArticularYoung Adultbiomechanicsflexible flatfootfoot progression anglemachine learning

Identifiers

PMID41619205
PMCPMC12860459

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.