ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Chirurgia Del Piede 2000 September;24(3):187-96

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Analysis of plantar imprints and of ground projection of the body centre of gravity taken by an electronic baropodometric platform

Gravante G., Pomara F., Russo G., Genduso D., Cortimiglia R., Amato G.

Background. The aim of the study was to analyse the influence of stature, body weight, hip and waist circumferences on plantar surfaces and pressures and on ground projection of the body centre of gravity.
Methods. A group of 103 healthy sedentary subjects have been studied: 44 males (42,72%, mean age±SD: 22,39±4,57 years, range 20-40 years) and 59 females (57,28%, mean age±SD: 21,25±2,60 years, range 19-38 years). Data were collected during barefoot standing using a computerized baropodometric platform. The area (cm2), the load (% of the body total weight), the mean and the peak (M) pressure (g/cm2) of each plantar imprint and of its anterior and posterior portions relatively to the centre of pressure (C) have been analysed. Moreover, the total length (T) of each plantar imprint, the maximum width of the anterior (Ta) and posterior (Tp) heels, the least length of the isthmus (I), the distance (B) of the centre of pressure C from the tangent line the inferior borders of the posterior heels have been measured and the B/T ratio evaluated.
Results. Differences in the absolute data according to sex and significant correlations of these data with anthropometric parameters considered have been found. In both the groups, the body weight is distributed nearly equanimously on the two feet and on each quadrant (50% for foot, 25% for quadrant). The peak pressure is localised, in both sexes, mainly on the posterior heels (in the males more on the right, while in the female more on the left foot) and, generally, in central position. Both groups have an equal mean B/T ratio (0.43±0.03). In both groups, stature, weight, hip and waist circumferences are positively correlated with total lengths and surfaces of the feet imprints, but the statistic significance is reached for all the parameters in males, only for the stature in females. In both groups, the correlations of the anthropometric parameters were highly significant more with the rear feet than the forefeet surfaces. Body weight, hip and waist circumferences, stature (only in males) are correlated positively with the peak pressure and with the mean plantar pressure.
Conclusions. Further studies are necessary to analyse the relations of plantar surfaces and loads, and of the ground projection of body centre of gravity, with other anthropometric parameters, and in subjects with different constitutional profile, on the basis of physiological, paraphysiological or pathological factors.