Changes in Plantar Foot Pressure with In-Shoe Varus or Valgus Wedging

2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Van Gheluwe ◽  
Howard J. Dananberg

Varus and valgus wedging are commonly used by podiatric physicians in therapy with custom-made foot orthoses. This study aimed to provide scientific evidence of the effects on plantar foot pressure of applying in-shoe forefoot or rearfoot wedging. The plantar foot pressure distribution of 23 subjects walking on a treadmill was recorded using a pressure insole system for seven different wedging conditions, ranging from 3° valgus to 6° varus for the forefoot and from 4° valgus to 8° varus for the rearfoot. The results demonstrate that increasing varus wedging magnifies peak pressure and maximal loading rate at the medial forefoot and rearfoot, whereas increasing valgus wedging magnifies peak pressure and maximal loading rate at the lateral forefoot and rearfoot. As expected, the location of the center of pressure shifts medially with varus wedging and laterally with valgus wedging. However, these shifts are less significant than those in peak load and maximal loading rate. Timing variables such as interval from initial impact to peak load do not seem to be affected by forefoot or rearfoot wedging. Finally, rearfoot wedging does not significantly influence pressure variables of the forefoot; similarly, rearfoot pressure remains unaffected by forefoot wedging. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 94(1): 1-11, 2004)

1997 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.F. Baumhauer ◽  
R. Wervey ◽  
J. McWilliams ◽  
G.F. Harris ◽  
M.J. Shereff

Total contact casting is the current recommended treatment for Wagner Stage 1 and 2 neuropathic plantar ulcers. The rationale for this treatment includes the equalization of plantar foot pressures and generalized unweighting of the foot through a total contact fit at the calf. Total contact casting requires meticulous technique and multiple cast applications to avoid complications before ulcer healing. An alternative to total contact casting is the use of a prefabricated brace designed to maintain a total contact fit. This study compares plantar foot pressure metrics in a standardized shoe (SS), total contact cast (TCC), and prefabricated pneumatic walking brace (PPWB). Five plantar foot sensors (Interlink Electronics, Santa Barbara, CA) were placed at the first, third, and fifth metatarsal heads, fifth metatarsal base, and midplantar heel of 10 healthy male subjects. Each subject walked at a constant speed over a distance of 280 meters in a SS, PPWB, and TCC. A custom-made portable microprocessor-based system, with demonstrated accuracy and reliability, was used to acquire the data. No significant differences in peak pressure or contact duration were found between the initial and repeat SS trials ( P > 0.05). Peak pressures were reduced in the PPWB as compared to the SS for all sensor locations ( P < 0.05). Similarly, peak pressures were reduced in the TCC compared to the SS for all sensor locations ( P < 0.05) with the exception of the fifth metatarsal base ( P = 0.45). Our results are summarized as follows: (1) the methods used in the current study were found to be reliable through a test-retest analysis; (2) the PPWB decreased peak plantar foot pressures to an equal or greater degree than the TCC in all tested locations of the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot; (3) compared to a SS, contact durations were increased in both the TCC and PPWB for most sensor locations; and (4) the relationship of peak pressure over time, the pressure-time integral, is lower in the brace compared to the shoe at the majority of sensor locations. The values are not significantly different between the cast and shoe. These findings suggest an unweighting of the plantar foot and equalization of plantar foot pressures with both the PPWB and TCC. Based on these findings, the PPWB may be useful in the treatment of neuropathic plantar ulcerations of the foot.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-100
Author(s):  
Karim Mohammad Jabbar1 ◽  
◽  
Farzaneh Gandomi ◽  

Objectives: Flexed posture with Hyperkyphosis (HKP) and Forward Head Posture (FHP), due to changes in the spine alignment, lead to the displacement of the center of pressure and increased postural sways; ultimately, this condition disrupts the distribution of foot pressure. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effects of 8 weeks of National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and Sharman training on Foot Pressure Distribution (FPD) in flexed posture students. Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 30 students with HKP and FHP were randomly assigned in two groups of NASM and Sahrmann (n=15/group). The angle of HKP and FHP were evaluated by Spinal Mouse and Image J software. FPD was also assessed by a Payatek foot scaner (PT-scan) device. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS using one-way Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Results: The present research results suggested that both intervention groups presented significant differences in reducing the angle of HKP (P<0.001) and FHP (P<0.001), COP minor axis length (P<0.05), COP major axis length (P<0.001), COP path length (P<0.001), the standard deviation of internal-external sways (P<0.001), and standard deviation of anterior-posterior sways (P<0.001); however, t there was no significant difference concerning the COP area (P>0.05) and symmetry index between the two legs (P>0.05). Discussion: Both provided corrective exercises reduced HKP and FHP angles and reduced postural sways. However, Sahrmann intervention with adjusted muscle stiffness and reduced electromechanical latency was more effective than NASM exercises in improving postural control and foot pressure symmetry index.


1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 152-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Brown ◽  
Sally Rudicel ◽  
Alberto Esquenazi

Foot orthoses are routinely used in clinical practice to redistribute pressure at the shoe-foot interface, although there is very little scientific evidence to support the efficacy of their use. In this study, the FSCAN sensor (an ultrathin in-shoe transducer) was used to determine the efficacy of pressure redistribution with a Plastizote, Spenco, cork, and a plastic foot orthosis as compared with control (no orthosis). Measurement variations of up to 18% occurred between sensors, and changes in stance time of up to 5% occurred between the orthoses and the control conditions. In spite of these potentially confounding variables, statistically significant differences in peak pressure between the orthotic types and the control condition (range, 9–146%) were noted. We conclude that Plastizote, cork, and plastic foot orthoses can be beneficial in relieving pressure in certain regions of the shoe-foot interface, but that they may do so at the cost of increasing pressure in other areas of the plantar surface.


2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maede Farzadi ◽  
Zahra Safaeepour ◽  
Mohammad E Mousavi ◽  
Hassan Saeedi

Background:Higher plantar pressures at the medial forefoot are reported in hallux valgus. Foot orthoses with medial arch support are considered as an intervention in this pathology. However, little is known about the effect of foot orthoses on plantar pressure distribution in hallux valgus.Objectives:To investigate the effect of a foot orthosis with medial arch support on pressure distribution in females with mild-to-moderate hallux valgus.Study design:Quasi-experimental.Methods:Sixteen female volunteers with mild-to-moderate hallux valgus participated in this study and used a medial arch support foot orthosis for 4 weeks. Plantar pressure for each participant was assessed using the Pedar-X®in-shoe system in four conditions including shoe-only and foot orthosis before and after the intervention.Results:The use of the foot orthosis for 1 month led to a decrease in peak pressure and maximum force under the hallux, first metatarsal, and metatarsals 3–5 ( p < 0.05). In the medial midfoot region, peak pressure, maximum force, and contact area were significantly higher with the foot orthosis than shoe-only before and after the intervention ( p = 0.00).Conclusion:A foot orthosis with medial arch support could reduce pressure beneath the hallux and the first metatarsal head by transferring the load to the other regions. It would appear that this type of foot orthosis can be an effective method of intervention in this pathology.Clinical relevanceFindings of this study will improve the clinical knowledge about the effect of the medial arch support foot orthosis used on plantar pressure distribution in hallux valgus pathology.


1994 ◽  
Vol 84 (12) ◽  
pp. 598-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Van Gheluwe ◽  
J Smekens ◽  
P Roosen

Biomechanical foot function as expressed by the duration of successive ground contact phases and by dynamic variables, such as the peak pressure on different parts of the foot, their respective loading rate, and duration, is compared for two walking and running conditions: overground on a 20-m walkway and on a treadmill. Statistical analysis revealed foot pressure characteristics as measured with a Electrodynogram during walking and running to alter significantly when using a treadmill. The differences were more pronounced for walking than for running. During walking, loading of the forefoot tends to last longer (longer propulsion phase) on a treadmill. Loading rate is decreased for the whole foot during either walking or running. Maximum heel pressure is diminished for walking but increased during running on a treadmill. Moderate variations of treadmill velocity were shown to have no significant influence on the measurements.


2021 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 103102
Author(s):  
Magdalena Zawadka ◽  
Maciej Kochman ◽  
Miroslaw Jablonski ◽  
Piotr Gawda

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1450
Author(s):  
Alfredo Ciniglio ◽  
Annamaria Guiotto ◽  
Fabiola Spolaor ◽  
Zimi Sawacha

The quantification of plantar pressure distribution is widely done in the diagnosis of lower limbs deformities, gait analysis, footwear design, and sport applications. To date, a number of pressure insole layouts have been proposed, with different configurations according to their applications. The goal of this study is to assess the validity of a 16-sensors (1.5 × 1.5 cm) pressure insole to detect plantar pressure distribution during different tasks in the clinic and sport domains. The data of 39 healthy adults, acquired with a Pedar-X® system (Novel GmbH, Munich, Germany) during walking, weight lifting, and drop landing, were used to simulate the insole. The sensors were distributed by considering the location of the peak pressure on all trials: 4 on the hindfoot, 3 on the midfoot, and 9 on the forefoot. The following variables were computed with both systems and compared by estimating the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE): Peak/Mean Pressure, Ground Reaction Force (GRF), Center of Pressure (COP), the distance between COP and the origin, the Contact Area. The lowest (0.61%) and highest (82.4%) RMSE values were detected during gait on the medial-lateral COP and the GRF, respectively. This approach could be used for testing different layouts on various applications prior to production.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document