title: Influence of activity on plantar force distribution.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to quantify the influence of physical activity on force distribution on the plantar surface of the foot. Eleven healthy subjects each performed 10 walking trials over a force distribution platform: five trials before and five trials after a 30-min run. For the analysis the foot was divided into three different regions (rearfoot, midfoot, forefoot), and maximal and average forces were determined for each region. The only statistically significant difference was found in the maximal force in the forefoot, but the difference was relatively small (<3%). The results suggested that the half-hour run did not have a large effect on the plantar force distribution. Differences between subjects were significant for all variables, indicating that relevant information on individual foot structure and/or gait may be obtained from the plantar force distribution.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, The University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reinschmidt
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Nigg
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hamilton