title: Obese children experience higher plantar pressure and lower foot sensitivity than non-obese.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children obesity is a risk factor for several dysfunctions and diseases, with negative effects on the morphology of the locomotor system, plantar pressure and body stability. A relationship between postural control and sensorimotor information has been assumed. However, there is few data on the effects of children obesity on the availability of sensorial information from the foot during standing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty obese and twenty non-obese children were evaluated for foot sensitivity and plantar pressure during unipedal and bipedal stance. Data were compared between obese and non-obese participants, between foot regions and between legs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obese children experiences higher plantar pressure and have lower foot sensitivity than non-obese. Additionally, obese children had similar sensitivity for different foot regions, as compared to the non-obese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children obesity negatively influences foot sensitivity. Bipedal stance seemed more sensitive to differentiate between obese and non-obese. Higher plantar pressure and lower foot sensitivity in obese children may affect performance of weight bearing activities, contribute to higher risk of foot injuries and have potential implication for children footwear design and clinical physical examination.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Souza
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: da Rocha
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Tiane Klein
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Bratz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa Colaço
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Gubert
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomechanics, University of Brasilia, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de David
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: carpes@unipampa.edu.br.
authors.forename: Felipe P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Carpes
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture; D011312:Pressure; D012307:Risk Factors; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: Biomechanics; Body mass index; Correlating factors; Kinetics; Obesity; Posture