Mobility Deficits of UFC fighters: Part 5 – Abnormal foot posture
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The violent nature of MMA it is not surprising that @ufc fighters would have multiple chronic injuries, inadequate joint health and suboptimal mobility.
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@ufcpi started to perform orthopedic assessments on fighters and discovered a few areas of common mobility deficits among UFC athletes when compared to non-combat elite athletes.
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Key areas to address: Average range of motion in degrees for UFC fighters (ROM range) compared to average range of motion in degrees for other elite athletes
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Navicular drop: 5.1 mm (1-17) vs <6
While the average was in an “optimal range” the range was fairly large.
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What is navicular drop? Flat feet.
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This occurs due to inadequate stability of the medial longitudinal arch. This negatively affects the ability to absorb impact, generate power (striking, takedowns and change in directions) and the sense of balance can be altered. Abnormal foot position may predispose an athlete to other leg injuries (ACL tears, patellofemoral pain or medial tibial stress)
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How to address:
1️⃣Joint dysfunction: Often this occurs because of inadequate ankle mobility. Regular and capsule focused ankle controlled articular rotations help to ensure proper mobility in the ankle complex (talocrural, subtalar, midtarsal).
2️⃣Motor control: Foot intrinsic strengthening can be achieved with active toe exercises (specifically the great toe) and the “short foot exercise”.
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Reference:
1️⃣A Cross-Sectional Performance Analysis and Projection of the UFC Athlete: UFC Performance Institute.
2️⃣Kim, E. K., & Kim, J. S. (2016). The effects of short foot exercises and arch support insoles on improvement in the medial longitudinal arch and dynamic balance of flexible flatfoot patients. Journal of physical therapy science, 28(11), 3136-3139.