Cutaneous Sensitivity Across Regions of the Foot Sole and Dorsum are Influenced by Foot Posture

Understanding the processing of tactile information is crucial for the development of biofeedback interventions that target cutaneous mechanoreceptors. Mechanics of the skin have been shown to influence cutaneous tactile sensitivity. It has been established that foot skin mechanics are altered due to foot posture, but whether these changes affect cutaneous sensitivity are unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effect of posture-mediated skin deformation about the ankle joint on perceptual measures of foot skin sensitivity. Participants (N = 20) underwent perceptual skin sensitivity testing on either the foot sole (N = 10) or dorsum (N = 10) with the foot positioned in maximal dorsiflexion/toe extension, maximal plantarflexion/toe flexion, and a neutral foot posture. Perceptual tests included touch sensitivity, stretch sensitivity, and spatial acuity. Regional differences in touch sensitivity were found across the foot sole (p < 0.001) and dorsum (p < 0.001). Touch sensitivity also significantly increased in postures where the skin was compressed (p = 0.001). Regional differences in spatial acuity were found on the foot sole (p = 0.002) but not dorsum (p = 0.666). Spatial acuity was not significantly altered by posture across the foot sole and dorsum, other than an increase in sensitivity at the medial arch in the dorsiflexion posture (p = 0.006). Posture*site interactions were found for stretch sensitivity on the foot sole and dorsum in both the transverse and longitudinal directions (p < 0.005). Stretch sensitivity increased in postures where the skin was pre-stretched on both the foot sole and dorsum. Changes in sensitivity across locations and postures were believed to occur due to concurrent changes in skin mechanics, such as skin hardness and thickness, which follows our previous findings. Future cutaneous biofeedback interventions should be applied with an awareness of these changes in skin sensitivity, to maximize their effectiveness for foot sole and dorsum input.

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Effect of Foot Morphology on Center-of-Pressure Excursion During Barefoot Walking

Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association ◽

10.7547/0980112 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 98 (2) ◽

pp. 112-117 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Lilian Wong ◽

Adrienne Hunt ◽

Joshua Burns ◽

Jack Crosbie

Keyword(s):

Regional Differences ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Pressure Data ◽

Lateral Border ◽

Foot Posture Index ◽

Posture Index ◽

Foot Posture ◽

Foot Morphology ◽

The Relationship

Background: The path of the center of pressure during walking varies among individuals by deviating to a greater or lesser extent toward the medial or lateral border of the foot. It is unclear whether this variance is systematic and is affected by foot posture. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between foot morphology and center-of-pressure excursion during barefoot walking. Methods: Pressure data were collected from 83 participants whose foot type had been classified as supinated, normal, or pronated according to the Foot Posture Index. Three center-of-pressure variables were analyzed: medial excursion area, lateral excursion area, and total excursion area. Results: Across the spectrum of foot types, we found that the more supinated a participant’s foot posture, the larger the area of lateral center-of-pressure excursion, and, conversely, the more pronated the foot posture, the smaller the area of lateral center-of-pressure excursion. Furthermore, the supinated foot type had a relatively larger center-of-pressure total excursion area, and the pronated foot type had a relatively smaller center-of-pressure total excursion area. Conclusions: These results indicate the importance of assessing foot posture when measuring center of pressure and may help explain regional differences in pain and injury location among foot types. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 98(2): 112–117, 2008)

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DIAGNOSIS OF ALLERGY IN VITRO A COMPARISON BETWEEN SKIN SENSITIVITY TESTING AND SERUM LEVELS OF SPECIFIC IgE ANTIBODY IN CHILDREN

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/j.1326-5377.1973.tb111120.x ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 1 (26) ◽

pp. 1293-1297 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

R. S. HOGARTH‐SCOTT ◽

R. N. MCNICOL ◽

H. E. WILLIAMS ◽

S. G. O. JOHANSSON

Keyword(s):

Serum Levels ◽

Specific Ige ◽

Sensitivity Testing ◽

Skin Sensitivity ◽

Ige Antibody

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A Brief Review and Framework towards Synthesising Silicone-Hydrogel Materials that Mimic Skin Deformation Behaviour

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.680.70 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 680 ◽

pp. 70-73

Author(s):

Nurul Nadiah Azmi ◽

Ilya Izyan Shahrul Azhar ◽

Jamaluddin Mahmud

Keyword(s):

Deformation Behaviour ◽

The Body ◽

Skin Substitute ◽

Silicone Hydrogel ◽

Skin Deformation ◽

Body Of Knowledge ◽

Skin Mechanics ◽

Hyperelastic Model ◽

Basic Functions ◽

Outer Environment

Skin is an important organ which provides multiple functions. Thus, if skin fails i.e. due to burns or diseases, body will lose the protection provided by skin against infections and the harmful outer environment. Due to that, synthetic skin is seen as a very important alternative in the future. A number of studies have been carried out to understand skin’s basic functions and behaviour as its mechanical properties and behaviour are important in various fields. Nevertheless, to date no breakthrough has been reported. Therefore, this paper aims to briefly review and outline a framework which ultimately will lead to the synthesising silicone-hydrogel materials that potentially becoming a skin substitute. The newly synthesised composite materials will be tested mechanically to characterise its behaviour based on Ogden hyperelastic model. It could be emphasised that the present study is significant and will contribute to the body of knowledge in the area of skin mechanics.

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