Korean J Sports Med.  2016 Jun;34(1):36-42. 10.5763/kjsm.2016.34.1.36.

Biomechanical Parameters in Arch Building Gait Measured by Gait Analysis System with Pressure Sensor

• Lee BY
• Yoo SD
• Lee SA
• Chon J
• Kim DH
• Jeong YS
• Noh SG
• Lee MA
• Lee WJ
• Kim EH
• Kang SJ
• Ryu JC

• KMID: 2361667
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2016.34.1.36

Abstract

The objective of study was to compare biomechanical parameters between normal and arch building gait in healthy subjects. A total of 40 feet from 20 healthy adults were evaluated in this study. The participants were asked to walk on a treadmill comfortably at 2 km/hr for 30 seconds. Then, they were asked to walk after making arch building through raising arches with their feet by pulling the big toe toward the heel. Gait parameters such as geometry, center of pressure, maximum force, and maximum pressure were measured in normal and the arch building gait using a gait analysis system equipped with pressure sensor. Arch building gait demonstrated significantly (p<0.01) decreased forefoot maximum force but significantly (p=0.024) increased heel maximum force compared to normal gait. Maximum pressures of the midfoot and heel were also significantly (both p<0.01) increased. However, the maximum pressures of the forefoot were not significantly (p>0.05) different between the two conditions. Geometry, phase, and time parameters were not significantly (p>0.05) different between the two conditions, either. Although forefoot and midfoot maximum force were significantly decreased in arch building gait compared to those in normal gait, the maximum pressure of forefoot was not significantly changed, indicating decreased area of forefoot contact during arch building gait. The arch building gait moves the center of presser to the hind foot and redistributes the contact area, thus changing the distribution of maximum pressure.

Keyword

Foot; Gait physiology; Exercise analysis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Foot
Gait*
Hallux
Healthy Volunteers
Heel
Humans

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Center of pressure parameter. (A) Gait line length. (B) Single support line. (C) Anterior/ posterior position. (D) Lateral symmetry.

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  Fig. 2. Describe arch building gait. (A) Resting foot. Solid black line indicates resting foot length. (B) Contracted foot. Dashed red line indicate contracted foot length due to the intrinsic muscle contraction.

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  Fig. 3. In normal walking, the data was presented by Zebris system (Zebris Medical, Isny, Germany). COP: center of pressure.

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  Fig. 4. Arch building gait. The data was presented by Zebris system (Zebris Medical, Isny, Germany). COP: center of pressure.

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