title: The effect of low-Dye taping on peak plantar pressures of normal feet during gait.
abstract: This study investigated whether low-Dye anti-pronation taping altered peak plantar pressures of normal feet during gait. The Emed-AT-2 platform system was used to measure peak plantar pressures. Forty subjects performed two sets of six walks over the Emed-AT-2 forceplate. One set of walks was performed barefoot whilst the other set was performed with the low-Dye tape applied to the right foot. Computer software divided the heel, midfoot and forefoot into six areas (masks) for analysis. The mean for the peak plantar pressures (N/cm(2)) of each of these masks was determined for both sets of walks. Paired t-tests found a significant difference between the barefoot and taped peak plantar pressures in each of the six masks. Overall low-Dye anti-pronation taping significantly altered the peak plantar pressures of normal feet during gait. Of particular interest was that a significant reduction in mean peak plantar pressure was observed in the medial midfoot (1.4 N/cm(2)) whilst a significant increase occurred in the lateral midfoot (2.6 N/cm(2)).
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chipchase
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001458:Bandages; D005260:Female; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006365:Heel / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011032:Podiatry / Q000379:methods*; D011312:Pressure; D011403:Pronation / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology