Abstract

The insensate foot is vulnerable to tissue damage from areas of repetitive, excessive pressures. It has been stated that a shuffling gait with short steps would increase the period of foot flat and thus minimize any excessive local plantar pressures. This theory was quantitatively evaluated with a portable, in-shoe pressure data-acquisition system. 7 pressure sensors were located in the left and right insoles under the metatarsal heads, hallux, and posterior and anterior heels. Plantar pressure data were acquired from 10 subjects during 4 min of continuous shuffling and walking at a metronome-controlled cadence. Peak pressures, foot-to-floor contact durations, and pressure-time integrals under each sensor during shuffling and walking were analyzed and compared. Peak pressures were decreased at all sensor sites during a shuffling gait. The greatest decreases were noted at the I. and II. metatarsals (up to 57.8) and hallux (up to 63.2). A 41.6 decrease in overall summated peak plantar pressures during shuffling was found. Foot-to-floor contact durations during shuffling were increased from 22.0 to 76.9 at all 14 sensor locations. Pressure-time integrals during shuffling were increased at the heels (up to 78.9) and decreased at the metatarsal heads and great toes (up to 26.7). There was a 3.3 increase in the overall summated pressure-time integral during shuffling. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a shuffling gait results in lower peak plantar pressures on any one area. Verf.-Referat