title: Changes in foot plantar pressure in pregnant women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During pregnancy, the body undergoes many hormonal and anatomical changes causing several medical problems as the musculoskeletal system problems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the plantar pressure distribution during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty two pregnant and non-pregnant females were selected from the King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah.
  
  
  METHODS
  All females were evaluated by inspection regarding their deformities of the spine, pelvis, lower extremities and feet. Pain was assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the weight and height were recorded using a calibrated weighing scale. Finally, the plantar pressure distribution was examined by a Global Postural Analysis device (GPA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed significant asymmetry of weight bearing in the study group (pregnant) compared to the control group (non-pregnant) (p< 0.05). In addition, there was a significant increase in pain intensity in the study group (p= 0.02). On the other hand, the results showed a non-significant difference between study and control groups regarding the three points of pressure (calcaneus, 1st metatarasal and 5th metatarsal) (p> 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant direct relationship between the month of pregnancy and increased weight bearing on the 5th metatarsal in the study group (p= 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an effect of pregnancy on plantar pressure distribution as well as weight symmetry which should be considered when designing an antenatal program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.|Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorders and Its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Enas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elsayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Devreux
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Heba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Embaby
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
authors.forename: Amani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alsayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
authors.forename: Maram
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alshehri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Pregnancy; global postural analysis; musculoskeletal disorders; pain; plantar pressure distribution