Biomechanical Correlates of Body Mass Index: The Role of Core Stability and Foot Posture in Young Adults of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is defined as the ratio of weight to height and is expressed in

kg/m². High body mass index has been shown to be the cause of different musculoskeletal disorders,

which mostly affect the individual especially during walking and ambulation. BMI has also been

linked to core stability. Various musculoskeletal disorders have been associated with being the cause

of an increase in BMI, but the prime ones are foot disorders such as pronated or supinated foot.

Objective: To determine the effect of BMI on foot posture and core stability in the young adult

population.

Method: A total of 316 participants were recruited for the study from the University of Swat, out of

which 216 were males and 100 were females. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was

used to recruit the subjects, and the study was conducted at the University of Swat. The BMI of

participants was measured using a weight and height machine and was expressed in kg/m². The foot

posture was measured using the foot posture index (FPI), and it ranges from -12 to +12, whereas

core stability was measured by using the anterior plank test.

Result: Out of 316 participants, 181 were in the normal range, 121 were pronated, 10 were highly

pronated, and 4 were in the supinated category, while none were in the highly supinated range. The

mean age of the participant was 1.71 years. The results of this study revealed that there was a

positive correlation between BMI and FPI (left and right), as well as a positive correlation between

BMI and core stability.

Conclusion: It was concluded that an increase in BMI can cause a change in the foot posture but

does not significantly affect core stability.