UC Davis

Background

Postpartum women are at increased risk for lower limb musculoskeletal disorders. Foot arch collapse following pregnancy has been reported as a mechanism for this increased risk. However, dynamic changes during gait in postpartum women have not been reported. Therefore, we assessed the association between parity and dynamic foot pronation during gait.

Objective

To determine (1) if there is an association between parity and dynamic foot pronation (center of pressure excursion index, CPEI) during gait; and (2) the extent to which there is a dose-effect of parity on foot pronation.

Design

The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) Study is a longitudinal cohort study of adults with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Setting

Two communities in the United States, Birmingham, Alabama and Iowa City, Iowa.

Interventions

Not applicable PARTICIPANTS: A population-based sample of 1177 MOST participants who were female, had complete CPEI and parity data and completed the baseline, 30- and 60-month visits.

Main outcome measures

Odds of a one quintile decrease in CPEI by parity group and mean CPEI by parity group.

Results

In 1177 women, mean age was 67.7 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.6 kg/m² . As parity increased, there was significantly greater foot pronation, lower mean CPEI: 19.1 (18.2-20.1), 18.9 (18.4-19.4), 18 (17.5-18.6) to 17.5 (16.4-18.6) in the 0 to 4 and >5 children groups, respectively; (P = .002), which remained significant after adjusting for race and clinic site (P = .005). There was a positive linear trend (β = 1.08, 1.03-1.14) in odds ratios of a one quintile decrease in CPEI (greater pronation) with increasing parity level (P = .004), which remained significant after adjusting for race and clinic site (P = .01). After adjusting for age and BMI, these two associations were no longer statistically significant.

Conclusions

This study indicates a positive correlation between parity and greater dynamic pronation of the feet.