An interventional study of Custom foot orthoses and Intrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercises in Pes Planus and Running Related Injuries, sponsored by Dalhousie University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 30 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-23.
Sponsored by Dalhousie University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Running is a full body movement that requires the feet to support the body and absorb forces greater than the individual's body weight in a repeated fashion. If the musculoskeletal structures of the feet cannot withstand and disperse the force applied, injury and dysfunction will occur. Without the inherent support of the foot musculature, ligaments are strained, and bones of the foot and ankle must absorb all forces, directly. When the medial longitudinal arch cannot be supported, the entire structure collapses, causing the foot to pronate. These postural signs indicate pes planus, or flat feet. Custom foot orthoses (CFOs) are commonly used to manage pes planus and research within the last 25 years has not provided clear insight on how CFOs influence running mechanics of joints and segments proximal to the foot (knee and hip). Additionally, CFO intervention has not been compared to exercise programming that focuses on strengthening the muscles that provide the foot with intrinsic strength. This study will provide insight on how these two interventions may influence foot biomechanics in the pes planus foot. We are hopeful that our findings can help to inform rehabilitation professionals in how different interventions can alter biomechanical outcomes related to pes planus. Previous literature also commonly focuses on an aging or sedentary individuals, while this study will focus on young active participants with a pes planus foot type.
Healthy recreational runners between the ages of 18-35 years old with pes planus will be recruited to participate. Participants will be randomly appointed to one of two groups: 1) the CFO group will wear CFOs for 8 weeks; and 2) the exercise group will be assigned an exercise protocol to complete each day for eight weeks. Participation will consist of completion of a prolonged run protocol in two testing sessions, pre- and post-intervention, and compliance to their assigned intervention. Three-dimensional kinematic data will be collected using a 10-camera motion capture system (Qualisys). For each data collection session, passive reflective markers will be placed on the participant both lower extremities, and participants will be instrumented with a heart rate (HR) monitor. The prolonged run protocol will consist of a five-minute warm-up phase, where participants will choose a comfortable running speed, with a desired HR at approximately 120 beats per minute (bpm). After the warm-up, participants will be permitted to stretch if desired, as they would before a typical run. Once ready, the participant will select a comfortable running pace that best represents their typical training pace. Running speed will be intermittently increased. A member of the research team will monitor the participant throughout the trial to check their HR, ask them to rate their perceived exertion on Borg's RPE scale (which will be displayed in front of them), and ask them to rate any pain they may be feeling on a scale from 1-10. The prolonged run protocol will end when any of the following occurs: 1) participant HR reaches 85% of their HR max, 2) participant rates the activity a score of 17 (very hard) on Borg's RPE Scale, or 3) the participant gives a 7/10 pain rating. Once the protocol has ended, participants will enter a cool-down phase where they will jog or walk until HR lowers. Participants will be able to stretch again following the protocol if desired.
173 studies on the registry are indexed under Flatfoot; 44 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 24 is below the median of 40 across 122 interventional studies indexed under Flatfoot.
Browse Flatfoot studies →Dalhousie University is the lead sponsor of 52 studies on the registry; 10 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Individuals who have been classified as having a pes planus foot type using the Foot Posture Index.
Device: Custom foot orthoses · Behavioral: Intrinsic foot muscle strengthening exercises
Custom foot orthoses constructed from a neutral suspension cast
An 8 week, intrinsic foot muscle strengthening program focusing on the intrinsic foot muscles that stabilize the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.
Standing static, arch height
The static standing arch height will be calculated using motion capture.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the interventions at 8 weeks
Maximum three dimensional joint angles of the hip, knee and ankle
Joint angle maxima for the hip, knee and ankle during the stance phase of running.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of each intervention at 8 weeks
Plan to share: No
Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Oct 2027, 13 months later.
Of 89 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Flatfoot, half reached primary completion within 7 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 2 and three quarters within 15. This study's planned 13 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 89 studies reached it within 7 months; a quarter within 2 and three quarters within 15.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Dalhousie University