Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to collect standard reference values of the weight and the maximum pressure distribution in healthy adults aged 18–65 years and to investigate the influence of constitutional parameters on it.MethodsA total of 416 healthy subjects (208 male / 208 female) aged between 18 and 65 years (Ø 38.3 ± 14.1 years) participated in this study, conducted 2015–2019 in Heidelberg. The age-specific evaluation is based on 4 age groups (G1, 18–30 years; G2, 31–40 years; G3, 41–50 years; G4, 51–65 years). A pressure measuring plate FDM-S (Zebris/Isny/Germany) was used to collect body weight distribution and maximum pressure distribution of the right and left foot and left and right forefoot/rearfoot, respectively.ResultsBody weight distribution of the left (50.07%) and right (50.12%) foot was balanced. There was higher load on the rearfoot (left 54.14%; right 55.09%) than on the forefoot (left 45.49%; right 44.26%). The pressure in the rearfoot was higher than in the forefoot (rearfoot left 9.60 N/cm2, rearfoot right 9.51 N/cm2/forefoot left 8.23 N/cm2, forefoot right 8.59 N/cm2). With increasing age, the load in the left foot shifted from the rearfoot to the forefoot as well as the maximum pressure (p ≤ 0.02 and 0.03; poor effect size). With increasing BMI, the body weight shifted to the left and right rearfoot (p ≤ 0.001, poor effect size). As BMI increased, so did the maximum pressure in all areas (p ≤ 0.001 and 0.03, weak to moderate effect size). There were significant differences in weight and maximum pressure distribution in the forefoot and rearfoot in the different age groups, especially between younger (18–40 years) and older (41–65 years) subjects.DiscussionHealthy individuals aged from 18 to 65 years were found to have a balanced weight distribution in an aspect ratio, with a 20% greater load of the rearfoot. Age and BMI were found to be influencing factors of the weight and maximum pressure distribution, especially between younger and elder subjects. The collected standard reference values allow comparisons with other studies and can serve as a guideline in clinical practice and scientific studies.
Highlights
Weight and pressure distribution and its relevance for postural control In the postural system, the foot has to fulfill a variety of functions—it is an organ of touch, support, and movement
Complex interactions of the sensory, motor, vestibular, and visual systems guarantee the maintenance of the balance [2] of movements or center of gravity displacements, which cranially trigger the balance shift causing the body weight to be distributed to both lower extremities in a manner that does not cause the person to fall [3]
These results are in agreement with those of Cuccia [16], which demonstrated a higher load in the rearfoot than in the forefoot [17]
Summary
Weight and pressure distribution and its relevance for postural control In the postural system, the foot has to fulfill a variety of functions—it is an organ of touch, support, and movement. Similar values were found by Scharnweber et al [13] for men between 18 and 35 years with a load ratio between the back and forefoot (63.00%/36.67%) This was confirmed in a study by Ohlendorf et al [14] who demonstrated a load distribution between the left and right foot of 50.1%:49.9% in female adults aged between 21 and 30 years (25 ± 2.7 years) in Germany. Ohlendorf et al [14] determined that the balance distribution between the left and right foot is 49.91%:50.09% in young German women. This means that the rearfoot is loaded more than the forefoot (66.67%:33.3%). The aim of this study was to collect standard reference values of the weight and the maximum pressure distribution in healthy adults aged 18–65 years and to investigate the influence of constitutional parameters on it
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