Plantar pressure distribution during barefoot standing, walking and landing in preschool boys

The purpose of this study was to examine the pressure distribution under the foot in preschool boys during standing, landing and walking tasks. Fourteen healthy boys (age 3.20+/-0.4 years) performed five activities (standing on one foot, standing on two feet, landing from a height onto one foot and both feet, and walking) on a Musgrave pressure platform system. The peak pressures were determined for eight areas of the foot. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the total plantar pressures during landings were significantly higher compared to the overall plantar pressure developed during standing on one foot or two-feet and the contact phase of walking (P<0.05). A two-way ANOVA indicated that with the exception of the second to fifth toe area, the pressures were significantly higher elsewhere during landing and walking compared with the pressures during standing on two feet (P<0.05). Neither standing nor the stance phase of walking is fully representative of foot function in children.