THE EFFECT OF PREFABRICATED ARCH SUPPORT ON PLANTAR PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION

Abstract

520 The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 2 types of prefabricated arch supports (O1, O2) versus a shoe-only condition (SO) on dynamic plantar pressure measures. Twenty subjects (15 males, 5 females) (mean age=25.5±4.1 yrs; ht=174.8±10.1 cm; wt=81.7±17.6 kg) were assessed bilaterally for subtalar joint range of motion, forefoot to rearfoot relationships, and navicular drop. Peak plantar pressure (PP) was determined for nine different regions of both feet utilizing the EMED Pedar in-shoe pressure measurement system (Novel Electronics, Inc.). ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc analysis revealed significantly lower left side PP in the medial and lateral heel, forefoot, and middle toe regions in the O1 vs. SO condition (p<0.05). PP was significantly different in the medial heel, medial and middle forefoot, and middle and medial toe regions in the O2 vs. SO conditions (p<0.05). On the right side, the O1 condition reduced PP in the medial and lateral heel, forefoot and middle toe regions (p<0.05). O2 reduced PP in the forefoot and middle toe regions (p<0.05). The findings indicate that prefabricated arch supports are moderately effective in reducing dynamic plantar pressures in some regions of the foot, although the O1 seems to be slightly more effective than the O2.