Objective The aim of the study was to investigate gender and age effect on dynamic plantar pressure distribution in early adolescence. Methods A total of 524 adolescents (211 women and 313 men; mean age: 12.58 ± 1.11 years (range: 11–14 years)) participated in pedobarographic measurements during gait at self-selected speed. Data of peak pressure (PP), maximum force (MaxF-Newton), body weight corrected maximum force (BW_MaxF), contact area (CA-cm 2 ) were analyzed for total foot and four plantar regions (hindfoot, midfoot, forefoot and toes). Results Higher toes PP was found in the ages of 12–14 years in females compared to males (253.79 ± 104.93 vs 216.00 ± 81.12 for the age of 12, p = 0.011, 264.40 ± 65.02 vs 227.21 ± 83.4 for the age of 13, p = 0.044, 299.75 ± 140.60 vs 238.75 ± 103.32 for the age of 14, p = 0.005). Females' higher MaxF especially for toes (136.24 ± 48.54 vs 115.33 ± 46.03, p = 0.008) and smaller CA especially for forefoot (50.12 ± 5.79 vs 54.4893 ± 6.80, p = 0.001) were considerable in the late of early adolescence. Forefoot (305.66 ± 82.14 females p = 0.001, 281.35 ± 79.59 males p < 0.001) and total foot PP (374.08 ± 113.93 females, p = 0.035, 338.61 ± 85.85 males p = 0.009) at the age of 14 was significantly higher than in younger ages in both gender groups. Conclusion The results indicate that especially the age of 14 years in early adolescence is a critical age for alteration in plantar pressure distribution. Interestingly females tended to increase their toe and forefoot plantar pressures compared to males by increasing age. We suggest that gender and age impact on toes plantar pressure alterations in early adolescence may be a possible risk factor for further foot impairments. Level of Evidence Level III, Diagnostic Study.

Objective: This study was planned as a community-based research study to estimate the prevalence of osteoporosis and explore related risk factors in the Thrace region of Turkey. Material and Methods:The community-based study involved a total of 620 people, 498 women and 122 men, aged between 40 and 89 years. A questionnaire on the medical history and lifestyles of the participants was applied with a face-to-face interview. Body weight height, and arm span of each participant were measured, together with bone mineral density at the middle phalanges of the second, third, and fourth digits of the non-dominant hand using dual-energy X-ray laser absorptiometry. Results: Age, clothing, lack of regular exercise, and giving birth to more than two children seem to contribute to osteoporosis, while high education, high economic level, tea and moderate alcohol consumption, oral contraceptive use, and hormone replacement therapy seem to retard osteoporosis. Osteoporotic patients had more fractures in the past. Height and weight were significantly lower in osteoporotic women. Conclusion: Lifestyle affects the prevalence of osteoporosis. Drinking tea and alcohol seems to be controversial with regard to osteoporosis risk. Key Words: Osteoporosis, bone density, risk factors, lifestyle Özet Amaç: Çalışma, Türkiye'nin Trakya bölgesinde osteoporoz prevalansını kestirmek ve ilgili risk faktörlerini ortaya çıkarmak amacıyla tasarlandı. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Toplum temelli çalışma, yaşları 40 ile 89 arasında, 498 kadın ve 122 erkekten oluşan toplam 620 kişiyi kapsadı. Çalışmaya katılanların tıbbi geçmişlerini ve yaşam tarzlarını sorgulayan bir anket yüz yüze gerçekleştirildi. Kilo, boy, kulaç uzunluğu ve Dual-Enerji X-ray lazer absorpsiyometri ile baskın olmayan elin 2, 3 ve 4.parmaklarının orta falankslarından kemik mineral yoğunluğu ölçüldü. Bulgular: Yaş, giyinme, düzenli egzersiz yokluğu ve doğum sayısı osteoporoz ihtimalini arttırıyor görünürken iyi eğitimli olma, ekonomik seviyenin yüksekliği, çay ve hafif alkol tüketimi, doğum kontrol hapı kullanımı ve hormon replasman tedavisi osteoporozu yavaşlatıyor görünmektedir. Osteoporotik hastaların geçmişlerinde daha fazla kırık tespit edilmiştir. Osteoporotik kadınların boyu ve kilosu belirgin biçimde daha az bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Yaşam stili osteoporoz prevalansını etkilemektedir. Çay ve alkol içmenin osteoporoz riski açısından etkisi tartışmalı görünmektedir.

No abstract