High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Therapy Combined With Foot Core Training for Pronated Foot

NCT ID: NCT06401954

Last Updated: 2025-03-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-05-15

Study Completion Date

2025-05-15

Brief Summary

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The objective of this trial is to assess the effects of high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training targeting the intrinsic foot muscles on plantar load, static foot posture, intrinsic foot muscle morphology and intrinsic foot muscle activation in individuals with pronated foot.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Question 1: To compare changes in plantar load following interventions of high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training, high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy alone, and sham high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training.

Question 2: To compare changes in static foot posture, intrinsic foot muscle morphology, and intrinsic foot muscle activation following interventions of high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training, high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy alone, and sham high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training.

Question 3: To assess the effects of each intervention on plantar load, static foot posture, intrinsic foot muscle morphology, and intrinsic foot muscle activation in individuals with pronated foot.

Participants will undergo stimulation of their intrinsic foot muscles through high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy, and they will also be required to isometrically contract their intrinsic foot muscles during the designated exercise program. Researchers will assess the effects of high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training by evaluating plantar load during walking, static foot posture, intrinsic foot muscle morphology and intrinsic foot muscle activation during walking.

Detailed Description

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The objective of this trial is to assess the effects of high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training targeting the intrinsic foot muscles on plantar load, static foot posture, intrinsic foot muscle morphology and intrinsic foot muscle activation in individuals with pronated foot.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Question 1: To compare changes in plantar load following interventions of high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training, high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy alone, and sham high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training.

Question 2: To compare changes in static foot posture, intrinsic foot muscle morphology, and intrinsic foot muscle activation following interventions of high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training, high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy alone, and sham high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training.

Question 3: To assess the effects of each intervention on plantar load, static foot posture, intrinsic foot muscle morphology, and intrinsic foot muscle activation in individuals with pronated foot.

Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: the high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training group, the high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy group, or the sham high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy combined with foot core training group.

High-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy sessions will last for 20 minutes each, while the foot core training program will comprise 4 exercises, with 10 repetitions per set and 3 sets per session for each exercise. Participants will undergo these interventions twice a week over a 6-week period.

Plantar load and electromyographic signals of the abductor hallucis muscle during gait, ultrasonography for morphological analysis of the intrinsic foot muscles, and static foot posture will be evaluated at baseline and 6 weeks following the intervention.

Conditions

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Flexible Flatfoot

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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HIFEM with foot core training

High-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy is used to stimulate intrinsic foot muscles, and foot core training is performed with intrinsic foot muscle isometric contraction exercise.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

High-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

High-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy is applied to intrinsic foot muscles, the intensity is set to stimulate muscle contraction.

20 minutes of intervention, twice a week, and a total of 6 weeks

Foot core training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Foot core training will consist of 4 exercises with 10 repetitions per set and 3 sets per session for each exercise.

Twice a week for a total of six weeks.

HIFEM

High-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy is used to stimulate intrinsic foot muscles

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Foot core training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Foot core training will consist of 4 exercises with 10 repetitions per set and 3 sets per session for each exercise.

Twice a week for a total of six weeks.

Sham HIFEM with foot core training

Sham high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy is applied on intrinsic foot muscles, and foot core training is performed with intrinsic foot muscle isometric contraction exercise.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Foot core training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Foot core training will consist of 4 exercises with 10 repetitions per set and 3 sets per session for each exercise.

Twice a week for a total of six weeks.

Sham high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy is applied to intrinsic foot muscles, the intensity is unable to stimulate muscle contraction.

20 minutes of intervention, twice a week, and a total of 6 weeks

Interventions

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High-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy

High-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy is applied to intrinsic foot muscles, the intensity is set to stimulate muscle contraction.

20 minutes of intervention, twice a week, and a total of 6 weeks

Intervention Type DEVICE

Foot core training

Foot core training will consist of 4 exercises with 10 repetitions per set and 3 sets per session for each exercise.

Twice a week for a total of six weeks.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Sham high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy

Sham high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy is applied to intrinsic foot muscles, the intensity is unable to stimulate muscle contraction.

20 minutes of intervention, twice a week, and a total of 6 weeks

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age ≥ 20 years old
* Navicular drop test ≥ 10 mm
* Foot Posture Index ≥ 6
* Foot and ankle range of motion within normal limits

Exclusion Criteria

* Rigid flatfoot
* Any congenital deformity of lower extremity
* Leg length discrepancy \> 10 mm
* Lower extremity injuries or surgeries in recent 6 months
* Neurological deficits
* Contraindications of high-intensity focused electromagnetic therapy: pregnancy, unhealed wound, implanted electronic devices or other metal implants
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Taiwan University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Yueh-Hsia Chen, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

National Taiwan University, School of Medicine

Locations

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National Taiwan University Hospital

Taipei, , Taiwan

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Taiwan

Central Contacts

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Yueh-Hsia Chen, PhD

Role: CONTACT

+886-3366-8133

Yi-Guo Wang, BS

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

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Yueh-Hsia Chen, PhD

Role: primary

References

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Other Identifiers

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202402010RINA

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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