ORIGINAL RESEARCH Are foot deformity and plantar sensitivity impairment associated with physical function of community- dwelling older adults? Aur  elio Dias Santos a , Janina Manzieri Prado-Rico a , Nayara Tasse de Oliveira Cirino a , Monica Rodrigues Perracini a,b, * a Master’ s and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de S~ ao Paulo, S~ ao Paulo, SP, Brazil b Master’ s and Doctoral Programs in Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, S~ ao Paulo, SP, Brazil Received 31 July 2020; received in revised form 15 July 2021; accepted 30 July 2021 Available online 3 September 2021 Abstract Background: Foot deformities are highly prevalent in older adults and negatively impact their mobility and quality of life. However, the association between foot problems and physical func- tion is still unclear. Objective: To investigate whether structural foot deformities and plantar tactile sensitivity are associated with lower extremity physical function impairment in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: We included 200 men and women aged 60 years and older from a community-based program. The foot assessment included toe deformities and calluses inspection and evaluation of plantar tactile sensitivity using monofilaments. The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was used to assess lower extremity physical function. We conducted a multivariate logis- tic regression analysis to investigate the association between foot problems and lower extremity physical function. Results: Hallux valgus was the most prevalent deformity among older adults. Those participants with reduced plantar tactile sensitivity (OR= 2.77; 95% CI: 1.38, 5.55) and a hallux valgus (OR= 2.23; 95% CI: 1.10, 4.52) were more likely to present poor lower extremity physical function. Conclusion: Hallux valgus and impaired plantar sensitivity were associated with reduced lower extremity physical function in older adults. Further studies are necessary to identify this causal- ity and to what extent management of these foot problems can improve general mobility and quality of life of older adults. © 2021 Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS Aging; Foot disorders; Hallux valgus; Physical therapy; Tactile sensitivity * Corresponding author at: Master’ s and Doctoral Programs in Phys- ical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de S~ ao Paulo, Rua Ces ario Galeno, 448, 03071-000 S~ ao Paulo, Brazil. E-mail: monica.perracini@unicid.edu.br (M.R. Perracini). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2021.07.002 1413-3555/© 2021 Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy 25 (2021) 846À853 Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy https://www.journals.elsevier.com/brazilian-journal-of-physical-therapy