Plantar Pressure System Research Articles

Reliability of the TekScan MatScan® system for the measurement of postural stability in older people with rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundPostural stability can be measured in clinical and research settings using portable plantar pressure systems. People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have decreased postural stability compared to non-RA populations and impaired postural stability is associated with falls in people with RA. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the reliability of the TekScan MatScan® system in assessing postural stability in people with RA.MethodsTwenty three participants with RA, mean (SD) age 69.74 (10.1) years, were assessed in barefoot double-limb quiet standing, with eyes open and eyes closed, for antero-posterior and medio-lateral postural sway values. Three repetitions, at a sampling frequency of 40 Hz, were recorded for each test condition to obtain a mean value. Measurements were repeated one hour later. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to determine between-session reliability. Measurement error was assessed through the calculation of the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and the smallest real difference (SRD).ResultsThe system displayed good to excellent reliability for antero-posterior and medio-lateral sway, with eyes open and closed, as indicated by ICC values ranging from 0.84 to 0.92. Measurement error, as evidenced by the SEM, ranged from 1.27 to 2.35 mm. The degree of change required to exceed the expected trial to trial variability was relatively high, compared to mean values, with SRD ranging from 3.08 to 5.71 mm.ConclusionsThe portability and ease of use of the TekScan MatScan® makes it a useful tool for the measurement of postural stability in clinical and research settings. The TekScan MatScan® system can reliably measure double-limb quiet standing in older people, aged 60 to 80 years, with RA.

Study on Piezoelectric CeramicType Insole Plantar Pressure Measurement System Based on Test Point

According to the requirement of measurement of plantar pressure, this thesis puts forward a plan to construct a new insole plantar pressure system based on multifunction data acquisition modular and Test Point. Then the hardware part and software part are designed and developed respectively. The piezoelectric ceramic type sensors are designed, manufactured and calibrated according to scientific methods. Meanwhile, the DAQ card is selected carefully. Of course, the software part is developed based on Test Point. A series of tests are performed in order to validate the function of the plantar pressure measurement system. The results satisfy the anticipated design requirements. At last, the problems and application trend of the plantar pressure system are predicted.

Design and Development on Piezoelectric Ceramic Type Insole 3D Force Measurement System Based on LabVIEW

According to the requirements of measurement of plantar pressure and shear stress in the meantime, this thesis puts forward a plan to construct a new insole plantar pressure and shear stress system based on multifunction data acquisition modular and Lab VIEW. Then the hardware part and software part are designed and developed respectively. There are 3 sensors are arrayed at each measurement point, that means 3 sensors are assembled in 3 different directions of X,Y and Z . The piezoelectric ceramic type sensors are designed, manufactured and calibrated according to scientific methods. Meanwhile, the DAQ card is selected carefully. Of course, the software part is developed based on Lab VIEW. A series of tests are performed in order to validate the function of the measurement system. The results satisfy the anticipated design requirements. At last, the problems and application trend of the measurement system are predicted.

Increased In-Shoe Lateral Plantar Pressures with Chronic Ankle Instability

Previous plantar pressure research found increased loads and slower loading response on the lateral aspect of the foot during gait with chronic ankle instability compared to healthy controls. The studies had subjects walking barefoot over a pressure mat and results have not been confirmed with an in-shoe plantar pressure system. Our purpose was to report in-shoe plantar pressure measures for chronic ankle instability subjects compared to healthy controls. Forty-nine subjects volunteered (25 healthy controls, 24 chronic ankle instability) for this case-control study. Subjects jogged continuously on a treadmill at 2.68 m/s (6.0 mph) while three trials of ten consecutive steps were recorded. Peak pressure, time-to-peak pressure, pressure-time integral, maximum force, time-to-maximum force, and force-time integral were assessed in nine regions of the foot with the Pedar-x in-shoe plantar pressure system (Novel, Munich, Germany). Chronic ankle instability subjects demonstrated a slower loading response in the lateral rearfoot indicated by a longer time-to-peak pressure (16.5% +/- 10.1, p = 0.001) and time-to-maximum force (16.8% +/- 11.3, p = 0.001) compared to controls (6.5% +/- 3.7 and 6.6% +/- 5.5, respectively). In the lateral midfoot, ankle instability subjects demonstrated significantly greater maximum force (318.8 N +/- 174.5, p = 0.008) and peak pressure (211.4 kPa +/- 57.7, p = 0.008) compared to controls (191.6 N +/- 74.5 and 161.3 kPa +/- 54.7). Additionally, ankle instability subjects demonstrated significantly higher force-time integral (44.1 N/s +/- 27.3, p = 0.005) and pressure-time integral (35.0 kPa/s +/- 12.0, p = 0.005) compared to controls (23.3 N/s +/- 10.9 and 24.5 kPa/s +/- 9.5). In the lateral forefoot, ankle instability subjects demonstrated significantly greater maximum force (239.9N +/- 81.2, p = 0.004), force-time integral (37.0 N/s +/- 14.9, p = 0.003), and time-to-peak pressure (51.1% +/- 10.9, p = 0.007) compared to controls (170.6 N +/- 49.3, 24.3 N/s +/- 7.2 and 43.8% +/- 4.3). Using an in-shoe plantar pressure system, chronic ankle instability subjects had greater plantar pressures and forces in the lateral foot compared to controls during jogging. These findings may have implications in the etiology and treatment of chronic ankle instability.

A new method for synchronization of motion capture and plantar pressure data

A common plantar pressure analysis technique requires dividing the pressure distribution into regions based on key landmarks of the foot. Typically, this is done using visual inspection of the footprint and is subject to error when there is abnormal foot contact. A novel, robust method of synchronizing motion capture and plantar pressure data was created that allows for motion capture markers to be projected onto the plantar pressure mat for accurate subdivision of the foot. Validation studies showed that spatial synchronization of the plantar pressure and motion capture systems was determined to be accurate within 1 sensel.

Reliability of the TekScan MatScan®system for the measurement of plantar forces and pressures during barefoot level walking in healthy adults

BackgroundPlantar pressure systems are increasingly being used to evaluate foot function in both research settings and in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of the TekScan MatScan® system in assessing plantar forces and pressures during barefoot level walking.MethodsThirty participants were assessed for the reliability of measurements taken one week apart for the variables maximum force, peak pressure and average pressure. The following seven regions of the foot were investigated; heel, midfoot, 3rd-5th metatarsophalangeal joint, 2nd metatarsophalangeal joint, 1st metatarsophalangeal joint, hallux and the lesser toes.ResultsReliability was assessed using both the mean and the median values of three repeated trials. The system displayed moderate to good reliability of mean and median calculations for the three analysed variables across all seven regions, as indicated by intra-class correlation coefficients ranging from 0.44 to 0.95 for the mean and 0.54 to 0.97 for the median, and coefficients of variation ranging from 5 to 20% for the mean and 3 to 23% for the median. Selecting the median value of three repeated trials yielded slightly more reliable results than the mean.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that the TekScan MatScan® system demonstrates generally moderate to good reliability.

Insole Plantar Pressure Measurement During Quiet Stance Post Stroke

Purpose: Reliable and clinically relevant measures of change in the postural control of people post stroke are important for evaluating clinical interventions. This study investigated the reliability and usefulness of the F-Scan insole plantar pressure system in measuring possible postural control variables in a sample of 15 people post stroke. Method: A test-retest design was employed to measure contact pressure (CP), contact area (CA), center of force (COF) and its motion characteristics in four different stance positions. The data collection was repeated 30 minutes later to replicate the timing of a standard therapy period. Results: Good to excellent intertrial reliability was demonstrated (r = 0.704–0.986). The CP and CA data demonstrated relatively equal values between the hemi- and non-hemiparetic foot for the easier tasks (mean 3.6 to 3.7 KPa), and the asymmetry increased towards the non-hemiparetic foot as the tasks became harder (4 KPa vs. 3.3KPa on the hemiparetic). There were unexpected areas of high peak contact pressure on the more affected foot for several participants, whilst CA data quantified the expected redistribution of contact/weight toward the lateral border of the more affected foot in most, but not all, subjects. COF motion was markedly reduced on the more affected lower limb with a mean of 0.3 cm versus 0.5−3.8 cm for the other lower limb. Conclusions: The main findings were that the F-Scan generates reliable data and produces variables that are clinically useful for measuring asymmetry parameters of postural control post stroke.

The Development of an Intraoperative Plantar Pressure Assessment Device

The goal of this study was to develop an accurate and reliable supine plantar pressure measurement apparatus that could potentially be used in the operating room to guide operative decision making. It was hypothesized that plantar pressures would be similar in supine and vertical posture trials. A supine plantar pressure system was developed using the Pliance 32 sensor array (Novel, Munich, Germany). Accuracy was tested with a standardized manometer and the Trublu calibration system (Novel). Next, bilateral feet of 10 healthy, asymptomatic patients were tested in the apparatus by two separate investigators. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to determine intrarater and interrater reliability for parameters of average mean pressure (AMP), peak pressure (PP) and percentage of total force (PF). Finally, plantar pressures were tested in vertical posture and compared to supine parameters. The sensor was both linear and accurate. The ICC values demonstrated that the sensor was reliable for AMP (0.66 to 0.93), PP (0.75 to 0.94), and PF (0.69 to 0.97). In general, AMP, PP, and PF values were significantly different at most anatomical regions for supine and vertical posture trials (p < 0.0001). This intraoperative pressure measurement system provided an accurate, linear, and reliable method to measure plantar pressure parameters in the supine subject. These measures were similar in magnitude to vertical posture, but were statistically different. This intraoperative plantar pressure system could guide operative reconstruction of foot deformities whose outcome depends on the distribution of pressures across the plantar foot.

Ethnic differences in plantar pressures in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy

To compare plantar foot pressures between Caucasian and Hispanic diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy (PN) without a history of foot ulceration and between Caucasian and Hispanic non-diabetic individuals. Forty-four Hispanic diabetic patients with PN (HDPN), 35 Caucasian diabetic patients with PN (CDPN), 41 non-diabetic Hispanic subjects and 33 non-diabetic Caucasian subjects participated. Total and regional peak plantar pressures (PPs) and pressure time integrals (PTIs) were assessed using the EMED-SF-4 plantar pressure system. Hispanic diabetic patients with PN had significantly lower peak PP than Caucasian diabetic patients with PN in the entire foot (552.4 +/- 227.9 vs. 810.1 +/- 274.6 kPa; P < 0.001), forefoot (464.1 +/- 222.6 vs. 699.6 +/- 323.1 kPa; P < 0.001), hindfoot (296.3.4 + 101.8 vs. 398.1 + 178.3 kPa; P < 0.01) and at the fifth metatarsal head (MTH5; 204.3 +/- 143.2 vs. 388.2 +/- 273.9 kPa; P < 0.001). The PTI in the entire foot, forefoot and MTH5 were also lower in HDPN than in CDPN. The ethnic differences between the diabetic groups with PN for the entire foot, forefoot and MTH5 remained significant after adjusting for the effect of age, gender, weight and duration of diabetes. There were no significant differences in peak PP and PTI among non-diabetic individuals, except for a lower peak PP at the MTH5 in Hispanic compared with Caucasian subjects. Despite a well-known higher incidence of foot complications in diabetic Hispanic subjects, dynamic plantar pressures are lower in Hispanic diabetic patients with PN when compared with their Caucasian counterparts, suggesting that differences in other risk factors exist between these two ethnic groups.

INVESTIGATION ON PLANTAR PRESSURE PATTERN WHILE JOGGING ON TREADMILL

INTRODUCTION Jogging injuries are primarily caused by overuse that biomechanics factors could play an important role for the detection of runner injury. The impact forces have been implicated as primary causes of running injuries. The impact force during treadmill jogging is hard to collect using force plate in our previous research experience. We use the in-sole plantar pressure system to overcome this problem in the current study.