Effects of walking speeds and durations on the plantar pressure gradient and pressure gradient angle

Abstract

Background Walking exercise has been demonstrated to improve health in people with diabetes. However, it is largely unknown the influences of various walking intensities such as walking speeds and durations on dynamic plantar pressure distributions in non-diabetics and diabetics. Traditional methods ignoring time-series changes of plantar pressure patterns may not fully capture the effect of walking intensities on plantar tissues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various walking intensities on the dynamic plantar pressure distributions. In this study, we introduced the peak pressure gradient (PPG) and its dynamic patterns defined as the pressure gradient angle (PGA) to quantify dynamic changes of plantar pressure distributions during walking at various intensities. Methods Twelve healthy participants (5 males and 7 females) were recruited in this study. The demographic data were: age, 27.1 ± 5.8 years; height, 1.7 ± 0.1 m; and weight, 63.5 ± 13.5 kg (mean ± standard deviation). An insole plantar pressure measurement system was used to measure plantar pressures during walking at three walking speeds (slow walking 1.8 mph, brisk walking 3.6 mph, and slow running 5.4 mph) for two durations (10 and 20 min). The gradient at a location is defined as the unique vector field in the two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system with a Euclidean metric. PGA was calculated by quantifying the directional variation of the instantaneous peak gradient vector during stance phase of walking. PPG and PGA were calculated in the plantar regions of the first toe, first metatarsal head, second metatarsal head, and heel at higher risk for foot ulcers. Two-way ANOVA with Fisher’s post-hoc analysis was used to examine the speed and duration factors on PPG and PGA. Results The results showed that the walking speeds significantly affect PPG (P < 0.05) and PGA (P < 0.05), and the walking durations does not. No interaction between the walking duration and speed was observed. PPG in the first toe region after 5.4 mph for either 10 or 20 min was significantly higher than 1.8 mph. Meanwhile, after 3.6 mph for 20 min, PPG in the heel region was significantly higher than 1.8 mph. Results also indicate that PGA in the forefoot region after 3.6 mph for 20 min was significantly narrower than 1.8 mph. Conclusions Our findings indicate that people may walk at a slow speed at 1.8 mph for reducing PPG and preventing PGA concentrated over a small area compared to brisk walking at 3.6 mph and slow running at 5.4 mph.

Analysis of Diabetic Foot Deformation and Plantar Pressure Distribution of Women at Different Walking Speeds

“…Considering the clinical implications of the results of this study, plantar pressure changes with different walking speeds would be useful to recommend activities for patients with specific foot problems. For example, patients with forefoot pain should slow down, since a fast walking speed needs more range of motion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which increases the shear force contributing to skin breakdown [ 18 , 54 ].…”

“…Lakhdar et al [ 15 ] concluded that brisk walking has beneficial effects on anthropometric and biochemical parameters, physical performance, and glycemic control for diabetic patients. However, a fast walking speed can increase the plantar pressure at the forefoot and rearfoot areas [ 18 , 19 ], thereby increasing the risk of DFUs. The pronation of the foot or its side-to-side movement causes the foot to roll a bit inward with each step, with the big and second toes working to push off the foot while the other toes stabilize the foot.…”

The effect of orthotics on plantar pressure in children with infantile tibia vara (Blount's disease)

“…Conducting the study, which looked at the relationship between walking speed and peak pressure gradient in healthy individuals, also in individuals with ITV will reveal valuable results 34 .…”

Ergonomics Applied to the Development and Evaluation of Insoles for Protective Footwear

“…All kinematic variables were observed between the three environments that participants were asked to execute: (1) barefoot, (2) standard insole, and (3) innovative insole. The insole likely causes stabilization to the foot, but it is necessary to understand whether the magnitude of stabilization is significantly different in the three environments (1, 2, and 3) and whether this stabilization does not compromise functional and individual mobility [31].…”