title: Screening method based on walking plantar impulse for detecting musculoskeletal senescence and injury.
abstract: No consensus has been reached on how musculoskeletal system injuries or aging can be explained by a walking plantar impulse. We standardize the plantar impulse by defining a principal axis of plantar impulse. Based upon this standardized plantar impulse, two indexes are presented: plantar pressure record time series and plantar-impulse distribution along the principal axis of plantar impulse. These indexes are applied to analyze the plantar impulse collected by plantar pressure plates from three sources: Achilles tendon ruptures; elderly people (ages 62-71); and young people (ages 19-23). Our findings reveal that plantar impulse distribution curves for Achilles tendon ruptures change irregularly with subjects' walking speed changes. When comparing distribution curves of the young, we see a significant difference in the elderly subjects' phalanges plantar pressure record time series. This verifies our hypothesis that a plantar impulse can function as a means to assess and evaluate musculoskeletal system injuries and aging.
authors.affiliation: Center for Scientific Research, Guangzhou Institute of Physical Education, Guangzhou, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yifang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yubo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: College of Foreign Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhiyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Foreign Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Center for Scientific Research, Guangzhou Institute of Physical Education, Guangzhou, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Changsheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Center for Scientific Research, Guangzhou Institute of Physical Education, Guangzhou, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012421:Rupture; D013499:Surface Properties; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult