Comparative analysis of left and right foot pressure in normal young people

AIM: To investigate the peak value of foot plantar pressure, contact area and impulse in double feet during the natural walk of normal young people, and explore the distribution rule of foot pressure parameters. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Research Center of Physical Fitness for University Students in Shandong University of Science and Technology from September to October in 2006. A total of 82 normal university students in Grade 2005 aged 19-22 years were analyzed by the Footscan USB2 system (RSscan, Belgium), with barefoot and normal gait. Dynamic foot pressure was determined three times during the first step, and the mean peak value of force, contact area and impulse were calculated. RESULTS: All 82 testees were involved in the result analysis.①The mean peak forces in the area of heel, the first toe, the first metatarsal and the second metatarsal were higher in right foot than in left root [right foot: (111.47±24.10), (123.34±30.64), (161.03±40.68), (212.02±43.81), (183.29±41.82) N; left foot: (96.82±21.48), (71.02±27.05), (123.45±38.51), (194.44±42.90), (163.93±45.39) N; P 0.01]. And those in the area of the fifth metatarsal and instep were lower in right foot than in left root [right foot: (45.88±24.07), (69.95±23.44) N; left foot: (80.19±27.61), (115.34±26.70) N; P 0.01]. The max force existed in heel whereas the min force in the toes 2-5 and the fifth metatarsal, there was the same regulation between the left and right foot.②The contact area in metatarsals 1-4 and heel was bigger in right foot than in left foot (P 0.01), but those in the first toe, the fifth metatarsal and instep were smaller in right foot than in left foot (P 0.01). The max contact area during normal walking existed in instep of mid foot, and then the first toe and heel. There was also identical change of contact area between the right and left foot.③The impulse in the first toe, toes 2-5, the first metatarsal and the second metatarsal was stronger in right foot than in left foot [right foot: (25.96±4.32), (6.26±2.13), (35.54±5.89), (53.54±10.15) N·s; left foot: (20.65±6.22), (4.36±1.91), (19.27±6.54), (39.81±8.61) N·s; P 0.05, 0.01], but those in the fifth metatarsal and instep were stronger in left foot than in right foot [right foot: (12.52±4.23), (14.89±5.94) N·s; left foot: (23.71±7.41), (26.76±6.87) N·s; P 0.01]. The max impulse during the normal walking existed in the second metatarsal, the third metatarsal and heel medial. The min impulse existed in toes 2-5, instep and the fifth metatarsal. The left and right feet were the same in the regularity of impulse. CONCLUSION: There are various differences between left foot and right foot during walking in force, contact area and impulse of the normal young people, but the same foot plantar pressure distribution regulation between the double feet.