Plantar pressure changes after long-distance walking.
Med Sci Sports Exerc
; 42(12): 2264-72, 2010 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20404764
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The popularity of long-distance walking (LDW) has increased in the last decades. However, the effects of LDW on plantar pressure distribution and foot complaints, in particular, after several days of walking, have not been studied.METHODS:
We obtained the plantar pressure data of 62 subjects who had no history of foot complaints and who walked a total distance of 199.8 km for men (n = 30) and 161.5 km for women (n = 32) during four consecutive days. Plantar pressure was measured each day after the finish (posttests IIV) and compared with the baseline plantar pressure data, which was obtained 1 or 2 d before the march (pretest). Mean, peak, and pressuretime integral per pixel as well as the center of pressure (COP) trajectory of each foot per measurement day were calculated using the normalization method of Keijsers et al. A paired t-test with an adjusted P value was used to detect significant differences between pretest and posttest.RESULTS:
Short-term adjustment to LDW resulted in a significant decreased loading on the toes accompanied with an increased loading on the metatarsal head IIIV (P < 0.001). At all stages, particularly at later stages, there was significantly more heel loading (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the COP significantly displaced in the posterior direction but not in the mediolateral direction after marching. Contact time increased slightly from 638.5 +/- 24.2 to 675.4 +/- 22.5 ms (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS:
The increased heel loading and decreased function of the toes found after marching indicate a change of walking pattern with less roll-off. It is argued that these changes reflect the effect of fatigue of the lower leg muscles and to avoid loading of the most vulnerable parts of the foot.
Texto completo:
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Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Presión
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Caminata
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Pie
Límite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Med Sci Sports Exerc
Año:
2010
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Países Bajos