Linking foot arch, oxygen uptake and injury risk: A study of Indonesian futsal athletes

Abstract

Foot arch functions as a natural shock absorber during athletic activities such as running, jumping, and rapid changes. Changes in foot arch morphology can affect oxygen consumption and increase the risk of injury. This study aims to identify foot arch, somatotype, maximum oxygen uptake, nutritional intake, and injury among Indonesian futsal athletes, as well as to analyze the relationship between foot arch characteristics, maximum oxygen uptake and injury incidence. A quantitative observational study with a cross-sectional design involving 73 futsal ahtletes in West Kalimantan province, Indonesia. Participants were divided into elite and non-elite team categories. The variables were determined using standardized instruments. Both teams had abnormal foot arch types. Forty-four athletes (60.27%) had an abnormal foot arch and 29 athletes (39.73 %) had a normal foot arch; the average somatotypes for both teams were the central type, 2.5-3.7-2.3 and 3.1-3.0-2.7, respectively. However, the elite team had more extremity injuries (57.58%, n = 19/33) than the non-elite team (40%, n = 4/40) and both had a poor daily nutritional intake (2.74%, n = 2/73). Furthermore, the maximum oxygen uptake of the elite team was higher (44.35 ± 5.41mL/kg/minute) than the non-elite team. Kendall's Tau test with p value = 0.788 showed that there was no association between foot arch characteristic and maximum oxygen uptake, and Fisher's exact test with p value = 0.198 showed that there was no association between foot arch characteristic and the incidence of injury. A low foot arch was dominant in futsal athletes. The oxygen uptake and incidence of injury among professional futsal athletes were not solely influenced by the foot arch characteristic. However, the interplay between nutritional status, foot arch morphology, oxygen capacity, and somatotype underpins the need for a comprehensive, individualized approach to athlete preparation. A customized insole prescription can offer a solution for comfort and performance improvement.