Effect of Arch Support on Prevention of Foot Pain During Pregnancy

Abstract
Background: During pregnancy women experience several changes in the body's physiology, morphology and hormonal system. These changes may affect the balance and body stability and can cause discomfort and pain.
Aim of Study: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of arch support on prevention of foot pain during pregnancy.
Material and Methods: Sixty pregnant women shared in this study. They were selected randomly from Al-Zahraa University Hospital, Al-Azhar University, in Cairo. Their ages were ranged from 20 to 30 years old and their BMI were less than 30Kg/m2. They were divided randomly into two groups equal in number: Group A (control group) which consisted of 30 pregnant women received no intervention and group B (study group) which consisted of 30 pregnant women wore arch support from the beginning of 2nd trimester till 6 weeks postpartum. All women in both groups were evaluated through Navicular Index (NI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before treatment (at the beginning of the 4th month of pregnancy), at the end of third trimester (at the end of 9th month of pregnancy) and at the end of puerperium (six weeks post-partum).
Results: Results of this study revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in navicular index between both groups (A and B) at the 4th month of pregnancy and after six weeks postpartum (p=0.403). But there was statistically significant difference between them at 9th month of pregnancy in favour of group B (decrease) (p=0.002). There was a statistically significant difference in VAS between both groups at both 9th month of pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum in favour of group B (decrease) (p=0.001).
Conclusion: It can be concluded that wearing arch support prevents foot pain during pregnancy.