Effectiveness of heel cord stretching versus golf ball roll exercises among college students with flat foot: a pilot study

Logeshwari V; Sathya Siva; Boopathy D; Madhubala V; Prathap Suganthirababu

doi:10.15391/prrht.2025-10(2).07

Authors

Logeshwari V Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6750-7924
Sathya Siva Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4253-4030
Boopathy D Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6076-8802
Madhubala V Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1514-9027
Prathap Suganthirababu Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1419-266X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15391/prrht.2025-10(2).07

Abstract

Purpose. A common musculoskeletal disease called flat foot or pes planus is defined by the collapse or flattening of the foot's medial longitudinal arch. This disorder may result in biomechanical changes that impact posture, walking, and general lower limb function. It is common in young adults including college students who may suffer from foot pain, exhaustion, and diminished physical performance as a result of misaligned feet. The aim of the study is to compare the effect of heel cord stretching versus golf ball roll exercise among college students with flat feet.

Material & Methods. Thirty-eight people with flat feet were randomly allocated into two groups, each with 19 participants using a computer-generated technique. Group-A received heel cord stretching, while group-B received the golf ball roll exercise. The foot posture index scale and navicular drop test were used to assess before and after the intervention. The significance of changes was evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results. The study indicates that both groups exhibited significant improvements following treatment. Moreover, heel cord stretching demonstrated greater significance (p<0.001).

Conclusions. According to this study both interventions were effective in improving foot posture and arch height in students with flat feet, with heel cord stretching yielding marginally superior outcomes. No adverse effects were reported, indicating that both techniques are safe for inclusion in flat foot rehabilitation protocols.

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