Song et al demonstrated that healthy subjects with planus and neutral foot type exhibited a distinguishable foot posture and dynamic foot function [1]. However, such a relationship has not been demonstrated in a large sample study.
Foot structure was categorized into one of three foot types (cavus, neutral, and planus) based on the standing arch height index (AHI) in 1,054 incoming cadets at the US Military Academy (172 female, 18.5±1.1 years, 24.5±3.0 kg/m2) [2]. Five trials of barefoot dynamic planar pressure were obtained for each foot with the Novel emed-x (novel GmbH, Munich) using the two-step method for walking data acquisition. The Center of Pressure Excursion Index (CPEI, %) and the peak pressure (PP, in kiloPascal) were calculated for each trial. Analysis of Variance was performed across the foot type groups on the left foot.
The cavus group exhibited the largest CPEI while the planus group demonstrated the smallest CPEI. The neutral group demonstrated the lowest peak pressure, which was significantly lower than the planus group. Results of this study provide additional evidence which support the link between the dynamic plantar pressure in gait and foot type biomechanics.
References
Song J, Hillstrom HJ, Secord D, Levitt J: Foot type biomechanics: comparison of planus and rectus foot types. J Am Podiatri Med Assoc. 1996, 86: 16-23.
Hillstrom HJ, Song J, Kraszewski AP, Hafer JF, Moontanah R, Dufour AB, Chow BS, Deland JT: Foot type biomechanics part 1: structure and function of the asymptomatic foot. Gait Posture. 2013, 37: 445-51. 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.09.007.
Acknowledgement
Volunteers from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Novel GmbH were instrumental in the collection of these data. We appreciate the study participants and support of the United States Military Academy.
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Song, J., Hillstrom, H.J., Neary, M. et al. Dynamic barefoot plantar pressure in gait and foot type biomechanics. J Foot Ankle Res 7 (Suppl 1), A77 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-7-S1-A77
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-7-S1-A77