Foot pressure differences in men and women

Abstract

Women and men are anatomically and physiologically different in a number of ways. Anthropometric studies have shown considerable differences in the foot bones of both genders. These differences could potentially mean different foot pressures in men and women. The aim of our study was to investigate any potential foot pressure differences between males and females using the Pedar-M (Novel gmbh, Germany) in-shoe foot pressure measurement system. Twenty-eight subjects (16 females and 12 males) were recruited. Peak pressure, contact area, contact time, pressure-time integral, force-time integral, instant of peak pressure, maximum force and mean force were recorded and subsequently analysed. In males, contact area was significantly larger in all regions of the foot compared with females. There were no significant between gender differences in peak pressure, contact time, pressure-time integral and instant of peak pressure. Force-time integral was significantly greater in males than females under the 1st, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal heads. Maximum force was also significantly higher in males under the heel, 1st and 3rd metatarsal heads. Mean force was greater in males under the 3rd metatarsal head. There were no peak pressure differences; however the contact area of the male foot was larger than that in females.