Evaluation of aerobic and anaerobic capacity in pubertal karate athletes: performance analysis and development strategies

Background: This study investigated the effects of gender’s foot arch structure (normal arch vs. pes planus) on aerobic and anaerobic performance in pubertal karate athletes. Method: Children with chronic cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases were excluded from the study. Participants included boys with normal foot arches (B-nfa, n = 7), boys with pes planus (B-pp, n = 11), girls with normal foot arches (G-nfa, n = 16), and girls with pes planus (G-pp, n = 11). Aerobic capacity was evaluated using the 6-Minute Walk Test, while anaerobic performance was assessed through the Vertical Jump Test and sprint tests (10 m and 30 m). The height of the foot arch was measured using the Navicular Drop test. Nonparametric data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test and Dunn's post-hoc test to identify significant differences. Parametric data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. Pearson's test was used for parametric correlation, while Spearman's test was used for nonparametric correlation. The significance threshold was set at p < 0.05. Results: Individuals in the G-nfa group exhibited higher anaerobic power than those in the G-pp group (p = 0.0452). There was a strong negative correlation between arch pes planus and Spear equations (r = 0.63, p = 0.0004). B-nfa participants performed faster than both B-pp (p = 0.0015) and G-pp (p = 0.0015). The G-nfa completed the 10 m sprint test faster than both B-pp and G-pp (p = 0.0052). B-nfa outperformed G-pp in the 30 m sprint (p = 0.036) and covered greater distances in the six-minute walk test compared to B-pp (p = 0.034) and G-pp (p = 0.002). Conclusion: In this study, we concluded that flat feet do not negatively affect the development of aerobic capacity in prepubertal children undergoing professional karate training. Still, they may significantly impact the growth of anaerobic power.