Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums

You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members, upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, access other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisements in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!

  1. Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
Dismiss Notice
Have you liked us on Facebook to get our updates? Please do. Click here for our Facebook page.
Dismiss Notice
Do you get the weekly newsletter that Podiatry Arena sends out to update everybody? If not, click here to organise this.

Vertical loading gait analysis systems

Discussion in 'Biomechanics, Sports and Foot orthoses' started by davidh, Oct 15, 2004.

  1. davidh

    davidh Podiatry Arena Veteran


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    Arenateers,
    Some thoughts for the weekend...................
    In my clinical work I tend to use a vertical loading gait analysis system to record walking (dynamic) data of each new patient.
    I look at footprint shape, areas of high loading (in comparison with the rest of the foot) and centre-of-pressure. I find the resultant information to be useful in the areas of;
    baseline data, comparison studies with paediatrics, and patient education. Reliability and repeatability seem to be pretty good :) - (now THERE'S an unscientific term if you like :D !).

    What do others think about carrying out repeatable gait analysis (using whatever system - I only use vertical loading because it's convenient and relatively inexpensive)?

    Does anyone have any solid research which shows what a normal homo sap foot looks like when it walks on a hard, flat surface :confused: :confused: ?
    (Is Steve Urry a member yet? )

    Regards,
    David
     
  2. davidh

    davidh Podiatry Arena Veteran

    Thanks for that Kerry.
    It would be good to have some thread imput too.
    As an MA in Biomech you must have some views on this topic :confused: ?
    Cheers,
    David
     
  3. Great to be a part of a forum such as this.

    To obtain valid data of foot to "hard" ground reaction forces, force plates (strain gauge, or peizoeletric) are superb...but terribly expensive. These devices offer highly accurate centre of force (pressure) data.

    Tekscan Inc. produces a product called the F-Mat which is designed to record "pressure" between foot / shod foot and floor. Novell produces the Pedobarograph.

    There are limitations of such "pressure mat" systems; Since there is deformation of the mat itself, there is an attenuation of ground reaction forces (reduced).

    However, since it is consistent (as the mat remains the same trial after trial) you can obtain reliable (repeatable) samples.

    Using these mats you can collect multiple trials and ensemble average using other softwear (such as BioProc, or even MS EXCEL). In your work you may come across (and I know some pods / chiropodists dislike the term) "normal"
    feet to use as a baseline measurement.

    Untill the next generation of sensors are produced that may be the best option to obtain barefoot overground data.

    I hope this helps.

    -Kerry ;)
     
Loading...

Share This Page