## 4 Discussion  
The purpose of this study was to analyze how foot type influences various physical characteristics (gender, age, and BMI), laxity, strength, motor tests, and different baropodometric variables in children aged 5 to 10 years (categorized by age and FPI). The main finding of this study reveals a strong correlation between FPI and the RCSP test. These results align with previous studies that correlate FPI with RCSP [26; 27]. Previous research [26; 28] has found a high correlation between RCSP and calcaneal valgus. This finding is significant as it highlights that RCSP can be used as an effective tool for detecting foot type since it is quicker, easier to use, and more reliable than FPI [20; 26]. We can say that RCSP could be a substitute for FPI. Based on our results, it can be observed that children with a higher FPI (more pronated foot) have a higher RCSP. This result aligns with the main finding of this study (correlation between FPI and RCSP). Thus, we can speculate that by taking a single measurement, it is possible to predict the type of foot a child has, instead of performing the six measurements required for FPI [4]. Our data analysis also found several notable differences in foot dynamics between age groups based on FPI. Children aged 5 to 7 years with a more pronated FPI showed greater maximum supination during gait and increased strength, particularly in plantar flexion. This suggests that children with a tendency towards greater pronation compensate for this excessive pronation with more pronounced supination and increased plantar flexion strength. This behavior could be related to compensatory mechanisms that help stabilize the foot and maintain functional gait, which is crucial for children in this developmental stage as their musculoskeletal system is still maturing [29]. On the other hand, children aged 8 to 10 years with a higher FPI tend to exhibit greater supination and spend more time in the forefoot push-off phase and the flat foot phase. This may indicate that children with a higher FPI tend to keep their foot in the push-off phase longer and spend more time in the second rocker phase during gait. This pattern may be related to the need to adapt foot mechanics to manage increased stiffness or excessive pronation, influencing the time spent in different gait phases [30]. These findings suggest that differences in FPI affect foot dynamics differently across age groups. While younger children with a more pronated FPI may compensate with greater supination and strength, older children with a higher FPI tend to adjust their gait pattern with changes in the duration of the push-off and flat foot phases. Understanding this can be crucial for developing personalized intervention strategies that address the specific needs of each age group. Regarding the relationship between flat feet and higher BMI, we found similarities [31; 32] and discrepancies [13; 33] in our results compared to the previous literature. Although our results are not statistically significant, our children with pronated feet tend to have a higher BMI than those with neutral feet. It is important to note that the association between BMI and FPI is unclear, and more studies are showing insufficient evidence to link a higher FPI with increased BMI [13; 33; 34]. Although the trend observed in our study suggests a possible relationship between flat feet and elevated BMI, the lack of statistical significance and discrepancies with the existing literature highlight the need for further research to clarify this association. Regarding laxity and strength, we observed that a higher FPI score is associated with a tendency towards greater hyperlaxity in the LL and greater foot strength. Children with pronated feet (higher FPI) tend to have greater joint flexibility and increased strength to stabilize the foot. Greater foot pronation could be associated with stretching and overloading of soft tissues and joints, contributing to increased hyperlaxity [35]. In contrast, children with supinated feet (lower FPI) show less foot strength.