Inter- and intra-observer reliability of masking in plantar pressure measurement analysis

High lateral plantar pressure is related to an increased tibialis anterior/fibularis longus activity ratio in patients with recurrent lateral ankle sprain

“…In addition, regarding the 95% CIs of the effect size crossing zero, we thought that it was caused by large individual differences in plantar pressure distribution and the values of muscle activity. However, since the values of plantar pressure distribution and muscle activity were almost the same in previous studies14,21,43 and the ICCs of the measuring methods were high (Table 2), our results are reliable. Thus, these results likely show accurately the characteristics of plantar pressure distribution of the patients of recurrent sprain and its factors.…”

Plantar pressures determinants in mild Hallux Valgus

“…During the ''masking'' process the intra-observer reliability can be considered as acceptable, but the inter-observer consistency is generally poor [9]. In this study, ''masks'' were manually created by an experienced podiatrist, which would increase the reliability of these measurements [10].…”

Human-like external function of the foot, and fully upright gait, confirmed in the 3.66 million year old Laetoli hominin footprints by topographic statistics, experimental footprint-formation and computer simulation

“…We would counter by suggesting that SPM, or something similar, is necessary for objective analysis. Manual ROI identification inevitably involves qualitative judgement, but even when it is highly repeatable [29] more serious problems emerge: the selected ROIs may miss or distort functionally relevant signal [20,28]. Thus, ROI definition, as a general methodology, constitutes an ad hoc, incomplete and potentially biased approach that cannot be guaranteed to assess accurately the underlying spatio-temporal trends of smooth surfaces.…”

“…The values previously estimated for Laetoli [31,36] and those produced by optimization of the current computer simulations are thus all medium/comfortable walking speeds for individuals of similar stature/limb length. Walking speed in our footprint creation experiments was chosen on the basis of the earlier estimates [29,34]. On the basis of our experimental studies of human foot pressure [39], higher speeds would tend to produce higher pressures under the forefoot and hindfoot, and lower pressures under the medial midfoot.…”