title: Reliability of Baropodometry on the Evaluation of Plantar Load Distribution: A Transversal Study.
abstract: Introduction. Baropodometry is used to measure the load distribution on feet during rest and walking. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in plantar foot pressures distribution due to period of working and due to stretching exercises of the posterior muscular chain.Methods. In this transversal study, all participants were submitted to baropodometric evaluation at two different times: before and after the working period and before and after stretching the muscles of the posterior chain.Results. We analyzed a total of 54 feet of 27 participants. After the working period, there was an average increase in the forefoot pressure of 0.16 Kgf/cm2and an average decrease in the hindfoot pressure of 0.17 Kgf/cm2. After stretching the posterior muscular chain, the average increase in the forefoot pressure was 0.56 Kgf/cm2and the hindfoot average pressure decrease was 0.56 Kgf/cm2. These changes were not statistically significant.Discussion. It was reported that the strength of the Achilles tendon generates greater forefoot load transferred from the hindfoot. In our study, no significant variation in the distribution of plantar pressure was observed. It can be inferred that baropodometry was a reliable instrument to determine the plantar pressure, regardless of the tension of the posterior chain muscles.
authors.affiliation: UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baumfeld
authors.affiliation: HC-UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tiago
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9244-5194
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baumfeld
authors.affiliation: Baleia Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Romário Lopes
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: da Rocha
authors.affiliation: Felício Rocho Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Benjamim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.affiliation: UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raduan
authors.affiliation: Mater Dei Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zambelli
authors.affiliation: Madre Teresa Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Alexandre
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Alves Silva
authors.affiliation: UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caio
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8780-9907
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nery
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D000067617:Telopodes; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing