title: A Novel Method of Quantifying Gait Deviations Using Plantar Pressure Patterns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Comparing the dynamic pedobarographic patterns of individuals is common practice in basic and applied research. However, this process is often time-consuming and complex, and commercially available software often lacks powerful visualization and interpretation tools.
  
  
  METHODS
  We propose a simple method for displaying pixel-level pedobarographic deviations over time relative to a so-called reference pedobarographic pattern. This novel method contains four distinct automated preprocessing stages: 1) normalization of pedobarographic fields (for foot length and width), 2) temporal normalization, 3) a pixel-level z-score-based calculation, and 4) color coding of the normalized pedobarographic fields. Group and patient-level comparisons were illustrated using an experimental data set including diabetic and nondiabetic patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The automated procedure was found to be robust and quantified distinct temporal deviations in pedobarographic fields.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The advantages of the novel method cover several domains, including visualization, interpretation, and education.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deschamps
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Staes
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Desmet
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roosen
authors.forename: Giovanni Arnoldo
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Matricali
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keijsers
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nobels
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tits
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bruyninckx
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D011032:Podiatry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011312:Pressure; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity