The Effect of Simulated Leg-Length Discrepancy on the Dynamic Parameters of the Feet during Gait—Cross-Sectional Research

Abstract

Background: The effect of Leg-Length Discrepancy (LLD) on dynamic gait parameters has been extensively discussed. Podobarography is the study of foot-to-ground pressure distribution. It has been used to test plantar footprint deviations that could reveal pathology. Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of simulated LLD on dynamic gait parameters measured with a pressure platform in healthy subjects. Methods: Thirty-seven healthy subjects participated in observational cross-sectional research. A procedure was performed to capture the dynamic parameters of each participant under five different simulated LLD conditions. Support time, mean pressure, and peak pressure measures were registered on three trials for each foot and LLD level per session. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) test for repeated measures was performed to check for differences between the different simulated LLD levels. Results: The stance time of the short leg had no significant changes. The stance time of the long leg increased by 3.51% (p < 0.001), mean pressure of the short leg increased by 1.23% (p = 0.005), and decreased by 5.89% in the long leg (p < 0.001). Peak pressure of the short leg decreased by 2.58% (p = 0.031) and the long leg decreased by 12.11% (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that increasing LLD causes an asymmetrical foot-loading pattern, with decreased mean and peak pressure on the longer limb, and consequently an overload on the short side. Furthermore, an increasing LLD causes increased stance time on the long leg.

Traceable Features of Static Plantar Pressure Characteristics and Foot Postures in College Students with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

“…Furthermore, examination of the leg-length discrepancy of the limb, which was not included in this study, is likely to bear an impact on changes of plantar pressure associated with the balance of the centers of gravity in CP patients. As shown in the studies by Pereiro-Buceta et al [ 45 ], the increased discrepancy of leg-length resulted in asymmetric foot-loading with an increased mean and peak pressure on the short limb and decreased plantar loads on the long limb. A greater discrepancy may lead to an increased stance time on the long limb.…”

Effects of Artificially Induced Leg Length Discrepancy on Treadmill-Based Walking and Running Symmetry in Healthy College Students: A Lab-Based Experimental Study

“…The asymmetric loading of bones, joints, and soft tissue structures [ 5 , 10 ] caused by deviation of the mechanical axes of the lower limbs and the resulting compensatory postural responses, such as pelvis obliquity [ 11 , 12 ] and torsion of the innominate bones [ 13 ], as well as lumbar scoliosis and hypo- or hyperlordosis [ 9 , 14 , 15 ], that occur due to LLD are thought to be largely responsible for these problems. Research has shown that the significant although controversial effects of postural as well as kinematic and kinetic compensatory responses induced by LLD on body function [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ] have led authors to question the magnitude of LLD that should be considered clinically significant. An extensive systematic review of the existing literature revealed that while some researchers state that structural LLD as low as 1.0 cm may need to be corrected as it can cause complications in the human body in the long term (e.g., low back pain [ 21 ], plantar fasciitis [ 6 ], knee osteoarthritis [ 22 ]), others report that differences between leg lengths of up to 6.0 cm have no significant effect on human function (e.g., ground reaction forces, energy consumption) [ 23 ].…”

Effects of contoured insoles with different materials on plantar pressure offloading in diabetic elderly during gait

“…The peak pressure value is defined as the highest pressure and frequently reported in plantar pressure studies 6 – 9 . Increases in peak pressure have been found to be particularly related to the development of DFUs due to the presence of peripheral neuropathy 10 , 11 .…”