Regional differences in the biological variability of plantar pressure as a basis for refining diagnostic gait analysis

Abstract

Variability plays a fundamental role in shaping individual patterns of gait. The description of this variability allowing an estimation of gait individuality gives the hope for judging about pathology. Existing tentative ideas for using these descriptors in diagnostic assessment appear inadequate for the quality benefits. We assessed the individuality of contribution of foot parts that directly mediate the transmission of forces between the foot and the ground in body weight shifting during walking based on 200 pedobarometric measurements corresponding to the analysed foot parts for each of 19 individuals in a homogeneous study group. Our results show a degree of individualisation of the contribution of particular foot parts in the weightshift high enough to justify the need to consider it in the diagnostic analysis. Furthermore they reveal noticeable, functionally driven differences between plantar areas most apparent between the lowest individuality for the first foot ray and the highest for second one and metatarsus. The diagnostic reference standard should describe the contribution in the shift of body weight during walking for each area of the foot separately and include information on the intra-individual variation and individualisation of descriptors of the contribution. Such a comprehensive standard has the potential to increase the diagnostic value of pedobarometry.