Open AccessPlantar pressure sensors indicate women to have a significantly higher peak pressure on the hallux, toes, forefoot, and medial of the foot compared to men
Author(s) -
Yamamoto Tetsuya,
Hoshino Yuichi,
Kanzaki Noriyuki,
Nukuto Koji,
Yamashita Takahiro,
Ibaraki Kazuyuki,
Nagamune Kouki,
Nagai Kanto,
Araki Daisuke,
Matsushita Takehiko,
Kuroda Ryosuke
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of foot and ankle research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.763
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 1757-1146
DOI - 10.1186/s13047-020-00410-2
Subject(s) - forefoot , medicine , foot (prosody) , plantar pressure , orthopedic surgery , foot pressure , rehabilitation , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , orthodontics , surgery , pressure sensor , complication , linguistics , philosophy , physics , thermodynamics
Background Sex‐related differences of plantar pressure distribution during activities should be thoroughly inspected as it can help establish treatment and prevention strategies for foot and ankle problems. In‐shoe measurement systems are preferable without space and activity restrictions; however, previously reported systems are still heavy and bulky and induce unnatural movement. Therefore, a slim and light plantar pressure sensor was newly developed to detect the effect of sex difference on plantar pressure during standing and walking. Methods One‐hundred healthy adult volunteers (50 women and 50 men) were recruited. Ten plantar pressure sensors were implanted in a 1‐mm thick insole, with a total weight of 29 g. Plantar pressure was recorded with 200 Hz during 3 s of standing and while walking 10 steps. The maximum loads during standing and walking were analyzed in each sensor, and the results were compared between different areas of the foot in the antero‐posterior direction and the medio‐lateral direction and between different time points. The movement of the center of pressure (COP) during walking was also evaluated. Analyses were adjusted for body mass index and gait speed. Results The movement of COP was constant for both sexes. In all cases, the maximum load was observed on the medial of the foot. Women had a significantly higher peak pressure on the hallux, toes, forefoot, and medial aspect of the foot compared to men while standing and walking ( p < .05). Conclusions A newly introduced in‐shoe plantar pressure sensor demonstrated a typical loading transition pattern of the foot. Furthermore, higher plantar pressure in the forefoot was detected in healthy women as compared to men during standing and walking activities.