Center of pressure metrics derived from spatially registered typically developing data.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Clinical Gait Analysis
• Foot Function Assessment

Background:

• Pedobarography is crucial in gait analysis but limited in clinical quantification.
• Spatial registration of plantar pressure and motion capture data enables quantitative assessment.
• Developing metrics from typically developing cohorts is key for clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate new center of pressure (COP) based metrics using anatomically registered pedobarography data.
• To evaluate kinematic relationships and metric sensitivity to foot pathologies and interventions.
• To assess the utility of these metrics in planovalgus and cavovarus foot conditions.

Main Methods:

• 3D marker trajectories and plantar pressure data were spatially registered.
• New indices (MLI, |MLI|, MFI, API, |API|) were derived from COP deviations.
• 198 feet were analyzed for pathology spectrum, and planovalgus/cavovarus feet pre/post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Mediolateral indices (MLI, MFI) and anteroposterior index (|API|) differentiated typical from pathological feet (planovalgus, cavovarus).
• MFI and |API| showed significant improvement post-surgery for planovalgus and cavovarus, respectively.
• Mediolateral indices strongly correlated with foot supination (r² > 0.5).

Conclusions:

• Spatially registered pedobarography and motion capture yield robust foot function indices.
• These metrics are sensitive to foot pathologies and surgical treatment outcomes.
• The developed indices enhance quantitative assessment in clinical gait analysis.