Comparison of plantar pressures and contact area between normal and cavus foot.
BACKGROUND
In pes cavus, the medial longitudinal arch elevation reduces the contact surface area and consequently increases the corresponding plantar pressure measurements. This poor distribution of loads may produce associated pathology and pain in this or other areas of the body. Normal reference values need to be established in order to determine which patterns are prone to pathology.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the plantar pressures and weight-bearing surface in a population with pes cavus to a population with neutral feet.


METHODS
The sample comprised 68 adults, 34 with pes cavus and 34 with neutral feet. The Footscan USB Gait Clinical System(®) was used as a platform to measure the total contact area and plantar pressure under the forefoot, midfoot, hindfoot, each metatarsal head, and the overall metatarsal area. A statistical analysis of the data was performed using Student's t-test for independent samples.


RESULTS
The pes cavus subjects showed a significant reduction in their weight-bearing area [neutral feet: 165.04 ( ± 20.68) cm(2); pes cavus: 118.26 ( ± 30.31) cm(2); p < 0.001] and significantly increased pressures under all zones of the forefoot except the fifth metatarsal [metatarsal pressure: in neutral feet 503,797 ( ± 9.32) kPa; in pes cavus 656.12 ( ± 22.39) kPa; p < 0.001].


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to neutral feet, pes cavus feet show a reduction in total contact surface and the load under the first toe. A significant increase is present in the load under the metatarsal areas, but the relative distribution of this load is similar in both groups.
Physiotherapy Department, University of Seville, Spain. Electronic address: lfdez@us.es.
Lourdes M
LM
Fernández-Seguín
Physiotherapy Department, University of Seville, Spain.
Juan Antonio
JA
Diaz Mancha
Nursing Department, University of Extremadura, Spain.
Raquel
R
Sánchez Rodríguez
Nursing Department, University of Extremadura, Spain.
Elena
E
Escamilla Martínez
Nursing Department, University of Extremadura, Spain.
Beatriz
B
Gómez Martín
Podology Department, University of Seville, Spain.
Javier
J
Ramos Ortega
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D005530:Foot Deformities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011312:Pressure; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*
Baropodometry; Cavus foot; Contact surface; Normal foot; Plantar pressure