Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the effects of walking speed and slope on foot pressure changes in young healthy adults.MethodsTwenty young healthy adults (mean age 22.4 years, SD 1.2 years; 10 male and 10 female) participated in the study. Dynamic pedobarographic data during treadmill walking were obtained for combinations of three different walking speeds (3.2 km/hr, 4.3 km/hr, and 5.4 km/hr) and 5 different slopes (downhill 8 degrees, downhill 4 degrees, ground walking (0 degree), uphill 4 degrees, and uphill 8 degrees). Pedobarographic data such as the peak pressure and pressure–time integral were measured on five plantar segments: medial forefoot (MFF), lateral forefoot (LFF), medial midfoot (MMF), lateral midfoot (LMF), and heel. Maximum ankle dorsiflexion was also recorded using the Plug in Gait marker set.ResultsAll participants maintained heel-toe gait in all walking conditions. The peak pressure on the MFF during downhill slope walking was lower than that during ground and uphill walking, whereas the peak pressure on the MFF during uphill slope walking was similar to that during ground walking at each walking speed. The peak pressures on the heel were similar for different walking slopes at each walking speed. The peak pressures on the MFF and heel increased with an increase in walking speed. The pressure-time integral of the MFF did not show significant changes at different walking speeds and slopes. The pressure-time integral of the heel increased with an increase in walking slope and decrease in walking speed.ConclusionsDifferent walking speeds and slopes affected the pedobarographic characteristics of young healthy adults. Downhill walking with slower speed appeared to be beneficial to reduce or optimize MFF pressures, while downhill walking at a comfortable speed would be helpful to reduce or optimize heel pressures. The findings of this study have clinical implications in recommending activities to patients with foot pressure-related symptoms and disorders.
Highlights
This study aimed to investigate the effects of walking speed and slope on foot pressure changes in young healthy adults
Pedobarographic data such as the peak pressure and pressure–time integral were measured on five plantar segments: medial forefoot (MFF), lateral forefoot (LFF), medial midfoot (MMF), lateral midfoot (LMF), and heel
The peak pressure on the MFF during downhill slope walking was lower than that during ground and uphill walking, whereas the peak pressure on the MFF during uphill slope walking was similar to that during ground walking at each walking speed
Summary
Foot pressure has been reported to be associated with various foot symptoms and problems, including metatarsalgia, heel pain, callosity, diabetic foot ulcer, and foot deformities.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7] Increased plantar pressure and abnormal distribution of foot pressure could cause mechanical pain and biomechanical imbalance.[7,8] As pressure is defined as force per unit area perpendicular to the contact surface,[9] subject-related factors such as weight, area of contact, vertical acceleration of the foot at the time of ground contact, plantar soft tissue property, and shoe wear as well as other factors could possibly affect foot pressure.Peak pressure and pressure-time integral are the most commonly used foot pressure measures used in clinical evaluation. Peak pressure is the maximum pressure, and it has been reported to be associated with foot pain, diabetic neuropathy, and the development of diabetic foot ulcers as well as foot discomfort in normal subjects.[10,11] The pressure-time integral is the accumulation of foot pressure according to contact time, and it is known to be associated with diabetic foot ulcers and foot pain in patients with cavus deformity.[12,13]. This study aimed to investigate the effects of walking speed and slope on foot pressure changes in young healthy adults
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