Plantar Pressure Assessment

Measurements of plantar pressure provide an indication of foot and ankle functions during gait and other functional activities, because the foot and ankle provide both the necessary support and flexibility for weight bearing and weight shifting while performing these activities.1–3 Although plantar pressure data have been recognized as an important element in the assessment of clients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, information derived from plantar pressure data also can assist in determining and managing the impairments associated with various musculoskeletal, integumentary, and neurological disorders. The use of force platforms is the method most commonly used to assess the interaction of the foot and supporting surface. Although the force platform provides valuable information regarding both the vertical and shear components of the ground reaction force, it provides little information on how the planter surface of the foot is loaded with respect to the supporting surface. When evaluating patients, atypical amounts of loading or patterns of loading may be reflective of a systemic or localized lower-extremity pathology and may be indicators (risk factors) for or predictors of further pathology or worsening of the existing pathology.4 In addition, force platforms have very specific requirements for attachment to the supporting surface on which data collection will occur. Such is not the case with numerous commercially available systems for measuring plantar pressure (eg, Emed sensor platform, * Pedar insole system, * F-Scan system,† Musgrave footprint system‡). Thus, plantar pressure measurement systems offer the clinician a high degree of portability, permitting utilization among multiple clinic sites.