Asymmetry detection during pathological gait using a plantar pressure sensing system

Abstract

Foot pain has long been associated with various pathologies of the foot. These common clinical problems often correspond with high plantar pressure, which can lead to severe plantar injury if it is left untreated. The detection of plantar pressure abnormalities is therefore of paramount importance for the diagnosis, early intervention, treatment and prevention of plantar injury. Traditional clinical methods for the diagnosis of plantar pressure abnormalities are predominantly subjective and can be unreliable. This study aimed to utilise sensor shoe-insoles to assess the asymmetry in peak plantar pressure during gait between the left and right feet of individuals with and without known foot pathologies. Outcomes of this study demonstrate that the level of asymmetry is significantly different between the control and pathological population at the third and fourth metatarsophalangeal joints (MPJs) (P <; 0.05). The use of plantar pressure measurement and asymmetry analysis may prove to be effective in the diagnosis and assessment of treatment outcomes for the prevention of foot injury.