title: Identification of Foot Pathologies Based on Plantar Pressure Asymmetry.
abstract: Foot pathologies can negatively influence foot function, consequently impairing gait during daily activity, and severely impacting an individual's quality of life. These pathologies are often painful and correspond with high or abnormal plantar pressure, which can result in asymmetry in the pressure distribution between the two feet. There is currently no general consensus on the presence of asymmetry in able-bodied gait, and plantar pressure analysis during gait is in dire need of a standardized method to quantify asymmetry. This paper investigates the use of plantar pressure asymmetry for pathological gait diagnosis. The results of this study involving plantar pressure analysis in fifty one participants (31 healthy and 20 with foot pathologies) support the presence of plantar pressure asymmetry in normal gait. A higher level of asymmetry was detected at the majority of the regions in the feet of the pathological population, including statistically significant differences in the plantar pressure asymmetry in two regions of the foot, metatarsophalangeal joint 3 (MPJ3) and the lateral heel. Quantification of plantar pressure asymmetry may prove to be useful for the identification and diagnosis of various foot pathologies.
authors: College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne VIC-3032, Australia. Linah.Wafai@live.vu.edu.au.
authors: Linah
authors: L
authors: Wafai
authors: College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne VIC-3032, Australia. Aladin.Zayegh@vu.edu.au.
authors: Aladin
authors: A
authors: Zayegh
authors: Boronia Podiatry, Melbourne VIC-3155, Australia. John.Woulfe@nwhcn.org.au.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Woulfe
authors: School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes SA-5095, Australia. mahfuz.aziz@unisa.edu.au.
authors: Syed Mahfuzul
authors: SM
authors: Aziz
authors: Gait and Balance Research Group, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Melbourne VIC-3032, Australia. Rezaul.Begg@vu.edu.au.
authors: Rezaul
authors: R
authors: Begg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D012775:Shoes
keywords: foot pathology; gait symmetry; plantar pressure