Background: Overweight and obesity increase mechanical stress on the foot and are associated with musculoskeletal disorders such as chronic plantar heel pain (CPHP). Altered foot posture, particularly pronation, may further influence plantar pressure and pain. Objective: To determine the prevalence of pronated and supinated foot types among overweight and obese individuals and their association with heel pain. Methods: This observational study included 100 participants (aged 35-50 years) recruited from the Physiotherapy OPD of Khalsa University Amritsar. BMI was calculated from height and weight measurements. Foot posture was assessed using the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) and pain using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Results: The mean BMI was 29.12 ± 3.17 kg/m². Mean FPI scores were 6.04 ± 2.98 (left) and 6.75 ± 2.97 (right), indicating predominance of pronated foot posture. A significant correlation existed between left and right FPI scores (p < 0.001, r = 0.910). Obese individuals reported higher pain scores (5.00 ± 0.91) compared with overweight individuals (3.44 ± 2.17). Pronated foot type was more common in both overweight and obese groups. Conclusion: Higher BMI is associated with increased prevalence of pronated foot posture and greater heel pain, suggesting that excess body weight may influence foot biomechanics and contribute to CPHP.
Dr. Manu Vishist2 Dr. Varinder Kaur1* (Wed,) studied this question.