Comparison of the Immediate Effects of Different Manual Therapy Methods in Physically Active Individuals With Pes Planus

The aim of this study is to compare the immediate effects of joint-oriented manual therapy and soft tissue-oriented manual therapy on dorsiflexion angle, static and dynamic balance, muscle-tendon mechanical properties, and thermal variables in physically active individuals with flexible pes planus. The research will be conducted between November 2025 and January 2026 at Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. Individuals aged 18-35 years with a Tegner Activity Score between 4 and 6 will be included. Participants will be allocated into three groups: soft tissue-oriented manual therapy group, joint-oriented manual therapy group, and control group. Following randomization, the respective intervention will be applied to the intervention groups, while no intervention will be administered to the control group. Assessments will include the dorsiflexion range of motion (weight-bearing lunge test), myotonometric measurements (Myoton-Pro), static balance (Kinvent force platform), dynamic balance (Y-balance test), and thermographic imaging (FLIR E52). The outcomes of this study are expected to contribute to understanding the immediate effectiveness of manual therapy approaches applied in asymptomatic pes planus and to identify the method providing optimal benefit. Furthermore, the differences observed between individuals with pes planus and healthy controls will serve as a guide for clinical assessments of pes planus.