Effects of short foot exercises and virtual reality on flexible flat foot individuals: A comparative study

When a person has pes planus, their medial longitudinal arch curves more flatter than usual, causing their entire foot to contact the ground entirely or almost entirely. In order to perform short foot exercises (SFE), one must try to bring the first metatarsal head toward the calcaneus without extending the toes. Previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of Short Foot Exercises in increasing the strength of intrinsic muscles in people with flexible pes planus, improved dynamic balance in a healthy population, improving foot posture and function, and reducing navicular drop. In rehabilitation, the use of gaming in conjunction with a biofeedback system—like virtual reality (VR)—is widespread. This is explained by the VR system’s potential to make therapy more interesting, lessen the difficulties of rehabilitation, and improve general safety. Virtual reality exposure, or VRE, uses computer technology to track participants’ movements and lets them interact with visuals on a TV screen. With the use of this technology, rehabilitation sessions become more entertaining and engaging as participants are encouraged to perform more repetitions. Better outcomes can therefore be attained in a shorter amount of time by doing several fun, repeating sessions. It’s common advice to use virtual reality, especially when discussing orthopedic conditions, to improve cardiovascular health, walking, and postural control. Since no prior research of this kind has been conducted in India, this study will be useful in determining how well virtual reality works for people who have flexible flat feet. Using a ZED camera to assess the VAST Rehab program’s efficacy in treating people with flexible flat feet The regular exercises will be given in a different, more engaging way with virtual reality. Should it demonstrate efficacy within the 18–25 age range, it may also be applied to younger and older populations. The study aims to assess how these interventions enhance balance, navicular drop, and arch height in people with flexible flat feet.