Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation of Foot Muscles: Effects on Medial Longitudinal Arch Height and Foot Muscle Strength in Adults With Flat Feet

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Pes Planus, Flatfoot, Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction

In brief

This study examines the effects of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) on foot invertor muscle strength, morphology, and the height of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) in individuals with flat feet. The rPMS will be applied non-invasively to the extrinsic and intrinsic foot muscles three times per week for twelve weeks. The experimental group will receive rPMS targeting the invertor muscles of the foot, while the control group will not receive stimulation but will follow the same measurement schedule. Assessments will be performed at baseline, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks of intervention. The primary outcome will be the change in the height of the MLA, evaluated using dynamic navicular drop assessment during gait. Secondary outcomes will include changes in the isometric inversion torque of the foot invertors and morphological adaptations of the tibialis posterior muscle assessed by ultrasound imaging. This study seeks to determine whether rPMS can improve the height of the MLA, foot invertor muscle strength and structural stability in adults with flat feet. The findings may contribute to developing new, non-invasive therapeutic approaches for improving foot function and preventing musculoskeletal imbalances related to flat foot deformity.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07237321

Run by

University of Ljubljana

People needed

30

Starts

2025-12-16

Expected to finish

2027-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-02

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 50. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age between 18 and 50 years,
• functionally flat feet of participants.

You may not qualify if…

• Acute leg injuries,
• diabetes,
• vascular disorders of the lower limbs,
• open wounds or skin lesions on the lower leg or foot,
• participants with metal implants near the stimulation site,
• cardiac pacemaker,
• other orthopedic or neurological conditions that could affect the study results or pose a health risk to the participants.

Where it is running

• Faculty of Sports — Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia (enrolling)
• Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana — Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.