Midfoot plantar pressure significantly increases during late gestation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Physiology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Limited research exists on plantar pressure changes during pregnancy.
• Physiological adaptations in pregnancy are suspected to alter foot biomechanics.
• Foot pain in pregnant individuals is often linked to increased plantar pressure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify plantar pressure in women during late pregnancy.
• To compare plantar pressure between pregnant and non-pregnant women.
• To assess the resolution of plantar pressure changes postpartum.

Main Methods:

• Plantar pressure was measured using an in-shoe system in 22 pregnant and 20 non-pregnant women.
• Measurements were taken at 38 weeks gestation for pregnant participants.
• Repeat measurements were conducted 4 months postpartum for a subset of pregnant women.

Main Results:

• Pregnant women exhibited significantly higher mean midfoot pressure (115.5 kPa) than controls (95.4 kPa).
• Postpartum, mean midfoot pressure significantly reduced from 111.9 kPa to 66.2 kPa.
• Maximum midfoot pressure also showed a significant decrease postpartum (184.0 kPa to 108.3 kPa).

Conclusions:

• Late pregnancy physiological changes lead to increased midfoot plantar pressure.
• These pressure increases are temporary and resolve after childbirth.
• Findings highlight biomechanical shifts during pregnancy affecting foot pressure distribution.