Influence of a metatarsus adductus foot type on plantar pressures during walking in adults using a pedobarograph

Metatarsus adductus is a relatively common congenital foot deformity that is often unrecognized at birth. Thus, the adult foot with metatarsus adductus is prone to pathologic entities that have been theorized to result from lateral column overload. We present a descriptive study comparing plantar foot pressure distribution during gait in subjects with and without metatarsus adductus. A total of 65 subjects were recruited for the study: 28 subjects with and 37 subjects without metatarsus adductus. An EMED(®) pedobarograph was used to collect the data. The analysis of the peak pressure and pressure-time integral in each of the 8 regions of the plantar surface of the foot showed significant (p < .05) differences between each of the regions and a significant (p < .05) interaction effect between the 8 regions and the 2 groups. A series of independent Student's t tests were therefore performed to determine which of the plantar regions showed a significant difference between the 2 groups. The result of those t tests showed that the peak pressure and pressure-time integral were significantly different (p < .05) between the 2 groups for the "heel," "lateral midfoot," and "lateral forefoot." The results of the present study support the concept that during gait, the adult foot with metatarsus adductus has increased peak plantar pressures on the lateral side of the foot.