title: Ground reaction forces and plantar pressure distribution during occasional loaded gait.
abstract: This study compared the ground reaction forces (GRF) and plantar pressures between unloaded and occasional loaded gait. The GRF and plantar pressures of 60 participants were recorded during unloaded gait and occasional loaded gait (wearing a backpack that raised their body mass index to 30); this load criterion was adopted because is considered potentially harmful in permanent loaded gait (obese people). The results indicate an overall increase (absolute values) of GRF and plantar pressures during occasional loaded gait (p < 0.05); also, higher normalized (by total weight) values in the medial midfoot and toes, and lower values in the lateral rearfoot region were observed. During loaded gait the magnitude of the vertical GRF (impact and thrust maximum) decreased and the shear forces increased more than did the proportion of the load (normalized values). These data suggest a different pattern of GRF and plantar pressure distribution during occasional loaded compared to unloaded gait.
authors.affiliation: Center of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, School of Sport, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91, 4200 450 Porto, Portugal. marcelocastro_fisio@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Rubim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: João Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vilas-Boas
mesh_terms: D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D014034:Toes / Q000502:physiology; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult