Background: Postural stability and plantar pressure parameters can be assessed by baropodometry; nevertheless, they are often affected by low repeatability. The aim of the study was to test the accuracy and repeatability of a novel resistive sensor pressure plate and to establish the most reliable baropodometric parameters. Methods: Accuracy and repeatability of the FM12050 BTS-Bioengineering plate measurements were assessed by using different weights in static conditions across three sessions. Subsequently, 20 healthy subjects were assessed by 30-s stabilometric analysis in bipedal standing with open eyes across four trials in two sessions, morning and afternoon. Results: Pressure plate repeatability in measuring the static weights was very high, and plate measurements were correlated to the scale measurements (Pearson’s coefficient = 0.99). Percentage of load distribution between left and right foot and in rearfoot and forefoot regions showed the largest repeatability (coefficient of variation < 5%) across trials. Eventually, median and percentiles (25–75%) were reported for each parameter. Conclusions: This study helped to assess the accuracy and repeatability of a novel pressure plate in static conditions and to define the most reliable parameters for the assessment of postural stability and foot morphology. The present healthy-subject stabilometric dataset may be used as reference data in the evaluation of pathological populations.

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Background: Late Onset Pompe Disease(LOPD) is a rare myopathy characterized by prevailing weakness of trunk and pelvic girdle muscles that causes motor disabilities. Spinal deformities have been reported unclearly on clinical examination. No study quantitatively assessed upright posture defining specific alterations of LOPD various phenotype. Objective: Identify postural abnormalities in a homogeneous group of LOPD patients using 3D-Stereophotogrammetry(St) and x-Ray(xR). Methods: Seven LOPD siblings were recruited. They were assessed by clinical scales and, in upright posture, using xR and 3D-St with a new marker set protocol. Fourteen healthy individuals, age and sex-matched, were used as controls for St-parameters; normative xR-values were found in literature. Results: LOPD patients showed a significant weakness of trunk and tibialis anterior muscles. Statistical analysis of St-parameters showed a larger ankle, knee, elbow, dorsal, S2-C7, heel-S2-C7, heel-S2-nasion angles and a lower sagittal vertical axis(SVA) than controls. xR-analysis highlighted an absence of scoliosis and a lower occipito-cervical, C2-C7 cervical and Cobb dorsal angles, and a trend to lower lumbar lordosis and SVA compared to normal values. Significant correlation was found in dorsal and lumbar angles calculated using xR-markers placed on spiny apophysis, xR-centre of vertebral bodies, Cobb-method and St-markers. Conclusion: This is the first quantitative study of postural abnormalities in LOPD patients using 3D-St and xR, highlighting sagittal standing alignment changes,difficult to assess to direct exam.Our new St-protocol showed a high reliability compared to xR. Further studies on larger population of LOPD might confirm the usefulness of these instrumental methods for monitoring disease course.

Introduction: The “postural control system” acts through biomechanical strategies and functional neuromuscular adaptations to maintain body balance under static and dynamic conditions. Postural stability and body weight distribution can be affected by external sensory inputs, such as different visual stimuli. Little information is available about the influence of visual receptors on stabilometric and plantar pressure parameters. The aim of this study was to analyze variability, correlations, and changes in these parameters under open- (OE) and closed-eye (CE) conditions.Methods: A total of 31 stabilometric and plantar pressure parameters were acquired in 20 young and healthy adults during baropodometric examination performed in bipedal standing under both visual conditions. Variability of parameters was evaluated via the coefficient of variation, correlation analysis via Pearson’s R2, and statistical differences via the Wilcoxon test.Results: High intra-subject repeatability was found for all plantar pressure parameters and CoP-speed (CV &lt; 40%) under OE and CE conditions, while CoP-sway area (CoPsa) and length surface function (LSF) showed larger variability (CV &gt; 50%). Mean and peak pressures at midfoot and total foot loads showed the least number of significant correlations with other parameters under both visual conditions, whereas the arch-index and rearfoot loads showed the largest number of significant correlations. The limb side significantly affected most plantar pressure parameters. A trend of larger LSF and lower CoPsa and mean and peak pressures at the right forefoot was found under the CE condition.Discussion: The present study provides a deeper insight into the associations between postural stability and foot load. Interesting postural adaptations, particularly with respect to different visual stimuli, the effect of the dominant side, and the specific role of the midfoot in balance control were highlighted.