title: Differences in center of pressure trajectory between normal and steppage gait.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This pilot study aimed to assess the differences in center of pressure trajectory in neuropathic patients with steppage gait. Steppage gait has previously been evaluated by several biomechanical methods, but plantar pressure distribution has been much less studied. The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes in center of pressure trajectory using a force plate.
  
  
  METHODS
  The steppage gait group was selected from the patients using drop foot brace (25 male) and the control group was selected from Isfahan university students (20 male). They walked at self- selected speed at a mean of ten trials (+2) to collect the center of pressure using a force plate. Center of pressure patterns were categorized into four patterns based on the center of pressure displacement magnitude (spatial features) through time (temporal features) when the longitudinal axis of the insole was plotted as the Y- axis and the transverse axis of the insole as X- axis during stance phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The horizontal angle measured from center of pressure linear regression was positive in the control group (4.6 ± 2.4) (p < 0.005), but negative in the patient group (- 2.3 ± 1.6) (p < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of this research measured center of pressure trajectory in steppage gait over time, which is useful for designing better shoe sole and also orthopaedic device and better understanding of stability in patients with drop foot.
authors.affiliation: Research Associate, Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jamshidi
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rostami
authors.forename: Siamak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Najarian
authors.forename: Mohammad Bagher
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Menhaj
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saadatnia
authors.forename: Firooz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salami