A color-code based method for the interpretation of plantar pressure measurements in clinical gait analysis.
Comparing plantar pressure measurements (PPM) of a patient following an intervention or between a reference group and a patient-group is common practice in clinical gait analysis. However, this process is often time consuming and complex, and commercially available software often lacks powerful visualization and interpretation tools. In this paper, we propose a simple method for displaying pixel-level PPM deviations relative to a so-called reference PPM pattern. The novel method contains 3 distinct stages: (1) a normalization of pedobarographic fields (for foot length and width), (2) a pixel-level z-score based calculation and, (3) color coding of the normalized pedobarographic fields. The methodological steps associated to this novel method are precisely described and clinical output illustrated. We believe that the advantages of the novel method cover several domains. The strongest advantage of the novel method is that it provides a straightforward visual interpretation of PPM without decreasing the resolution perspective. A second advantage is that it may guide the selection of a local mapping technique (data reduction technique). Finally, it may be easily used as education tool during the therapist-patient interaction.
KU Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Group, Belgium; KU Leuven, Laboratory for Clinical Motion Analysis, University Hospital Pellenberg, Belgium; Parnasse-ISEI, Department of Podiatry, Avenue E. Mounier, 84, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium. Electronic address: kevin.deschamps@faber.kuleuven.ac.be.
Kevin
K
Deschamps
KU Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Group, Belgium.
Filip
F
Staes
KU Leuven, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Belgium.
Dirk
D
Desmet
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Research Group: Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, University Ghent, Belgium.
Philip
P
Roosen
KU Leuven, Department of Development & Regeneration, Belgium; KU Leuven, Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Clinic, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium.
Giovanni Arnoldo
GA
Matricali
Sint Maartenskliniek Nijmegen, Research Department, PO box 9011, 6500 GM Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Noel
N
Keijsers
Department of Internal Medicine - Endocrinology, Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Clinic, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Ziekenhuis Aalst, Belgium.
Frank
F
Nobels
Department of Internal Medicine - Endocrinology, Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Clinic, ZIekenhuis Oost-Limburg, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
Jos
J
Tits
KU Leuven, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Belgium.
Herman
H
Bruyninckx
D000465:Algorithms; D003116:Color; D003626:Data Display; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011312:Pressure; D012016:Reference Values
Color-coding; Foot; Plantar pressure