The center of pressure progression characterizes the dynamic function of high-arched feet during walking

Abstract Background The medial longitudinal arch height has an effect on kinetic parameters during gait and might be related to the risk of injury. For the assessment of foot structures, the center of pressure (COP) trajectory is a more reliable and practical parameter than plantar pressure. This study aimed to clarify the COP trajectory and velocity characteristics in the medial-lateral and anterior-posterior direction of individuals with a high-arched foot during barefoot walking. Methods Sixty-two healthy young adults were asked to walk over a Footscan pressure plate to record the COP parameters during the stance phase of walking. Results Compared to normal arched feet, the COP during forefoot contact and foot flat phases of high-arched feet shifted anteriorly (19.9 mm and 15.1 mm, respectively), and the mean velocity of COP in anterior-posterior direction decreased by 0.26 m/s and increased by 0.044 m/s during these two phases respectively. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that the displacement and velocity of COP in anterior-posterior direction was different between high-arched and normal-arched subjects during barefoot walking, which can be used for the assessment of gait characteristics for high-arched individuals. The results of this study may provide insights into modifying clinical intervention for individuals with high-arched feet to enhance rehabilitation and prevent injuries and have implications for assessing the design of footwear and foot orthotics. Graphical abstract