Impact of asymmetrical footon navicular drop height, body mass index, genderas risk factor for lower limb injury among amateur athlete and non-athlete medicos -validation using staheli index

Background: The medial longitudinal arch plays a crucial role in foot biomechanics, shock absorption, and energy transfer during locomotion, and variations in foot posture may influence lower limb injury risk and athletic performance.1,3,5 Foot asymmetry has also been linked to altered functional performance and muscle fatigue, emphasizing its clinical relevance. 4,7 The Navicular Drop Test (NDT) and Staheli Arch Index (SAI) are practical, reliable, and cost-effective methods for assessing foot posture asymmetry and arch characteristics.2,6,9 Aim and Objectives: To evaluate foot posture asymmetry and arch characteristics in amateur athletes and non-athletes using NDT and SAI, and to examine their association with BMI, gender, and injury occurrence. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 48 MBBS students aged 17–25 years, equally divided into sports (n=24) and non-sports (n=24) groups, with equal representation of males and females. Demographic details, BMI, physical activity status, and injury history were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Foot posture was assessed bilaterally using the NDT (card test method) and SAI (India ink footprint method), with measurements obtained using a digital vernier calliper. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics with chi-square and Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact tests to determine associations. Results: BMI showed a significant association with physical activity status (χ² = 6.76, p = 0.034), with sports participants demonstrating healthier BMI profiles. However, no significant associations were found between injury occurrence and physical activity, NDT, or SAI classifications. Conclusion: Static foot posture measures alone may have limited value in predicting injury risk. These findings support existing evidence that lower limb injuries are multifactorial and should be evaluated using broader functional and biomechanical screening approaches.