title: Forefoot plantar pressures in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: We sought to investigate the magnitude and duration of peak forefoot plantar pressures in rheumatoid arthritis. The spatial and temporal characteristics of forefoot plantar pressures were measured in 25 patients with a positive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis of 5 to 10 years' duration (mean, 8 years) and a comparison group using a platform-based pressure-measurement system. There were no significant differences between groups in the magnitude of peak plantar pressure in the forefoot region. Significant differences were, however, noted for temporal aspects of foot-pressure measurement. The duration of loading over sensors detecting peak plantar pressure was significantly longer in the rheumatoid arthritis group. In addition, the rheumatoid arthritis group demonstrated significantly greater force-time integrals. Significant increases in the temporal parameters of plantar pressure distribution, rather than those of amplitude, may be characteristic of the rheumatoid foot.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Professions, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, England. St Albans City Hospital, St Albans, England.
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Otter
authors.forename: Catherine Jane
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Adam K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D013997:Time Factors