The Pressure Distribution Under the Foot During Barefoot Walking

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Abstract

Pressure distribution under the foot was determined for 27 symptomfree subjects walking barefoot. Two speeds of walking (1.33 and 1.79 m·s⁻¹) were examined using a capacitance mat with 2048 elements, each 1 cm² in area. The discrete elements of this pressure mat were sampled and stored by the use of a microcomputer and a PDP 11/34 minicomputer. The 54 feet tested were divided into three groups (flat, normal, and high arched) based upon both a clinical examination and the amount of midfoot contact area that Lhey exhibited. For purposes of analysis, each foot contact area was divided into eight anatomical regions: medial and lateral rearfoot, midfoot, metatarsal heads, and toes.

Ranges of peak pressure were established for each region of the foot and these ranges were Large In all regions. Over all subjects, the peak pressures in the rear foot, metatarsal heads, and toes were found to be higher than those seen in the other regions. Summed peak pressure was determined by adding the peak pressures observed in all eight regions. Over all subjects this measure was found to have a low correlation with body weight, and there was no difference in the summed peak pressures between men and women.

Peak pressures in the midoot regions were found to be significantly greater in the subjects wliose feet were classified as flat than in normal or hLgh arched subjects. However, even in the subjects with flat feet, t lie midfoot peak pressures were low when compared to oLhcr regions. Peak pressure was Iound to increase with an increase in walking speed in most regions.

Force-time curves were determined for each region of the foot and a regional impulse was calculated from the area under each of these curves. The impulse for each region was then expressed as a percentage of the total vertical force impulse. Ranges of the impulse percentage were established for each region of the foot and, as in the analysis of peak pressures, these ranges were found to be large in all regions.

Impulse percentages in the midfoot were found to be significantly greater in the subjects with flat feet than in either of the other two groups, although even in the flat footed group, these percentages were relatively low. With an increase in walking speed, impulse percentage was found to decrease significantly in some lateral regions indicating that a medial shift in load bearing accompanies faster walking. The toe regions were found to make a large contribution to the total vertical force impulse, and this contribution increased significantly as walking speed increased.

The analysis of peak pressun> and regional impulse percentage produced results which have implications concerning the use of pressure distribution patterns for diagnostic purposes and in the design of foot wear.

Cited Works (9)

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Cited By (8)

Year	Entry
1986	Nigg BM. Experimental techniques used in running shoe research. In: Nigg BM, ed. Biomechanics of Running Shoes. Champaign, IL: Inc., Human Kinetics Publishers; 1986:27-61.
1986	Stacoff A, Luethi SM. Special aspects of shoe construction and foot anatomy. In: Nigg BM, ed. Biomechanics of Running Shoes. Champaign, IL: Inc., Human Kinetics Publishers; 1986:117-137.
1987	Cavanagh PR, Rodgers MM, Iiboshi A. Pressure distribution under symptom-free feet during barefoot standing. Foot Ankle Int. April 1987;7(5):262-278.
1987	Cavanagh PR, Rodgers MM. The arch index: a useful measure from footprints. J Biomech. 1987;20(5):547-551.
1984	Hennig EM. Pressure Distribution Under the Impacting Human Foot During Expected and Unexpected Falls [PhD thesis]. State College, PA: Pennsylvania State University; December 1984.
1985	Rodgers MM. Plantar Pressure Distribution Measurement During Barefoot Walking: Normal Values and Predictive Equations [PhD thesis]. State College, PA: Pennsylvania State University; December 1985.
1997	Morag E. Structural and Functional Factors That Determine Regional Peak Pressures Under the Foot During Walking [PhD thesis]. State College, PA: Pennsylvania State University; May 1997.
1992	Chen H. The Correlation Between Plantar Pressure Distribution and Shoe Comfort [Master's thesis]. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary; December 1992.