PAPPI: Personalized analysis of plantar pressure images using statistical modelling and parametric mapping

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Medical imaging analysis
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Quantitative plantar pressure analysis often assumes group homogeneity, which can obscure individual variations.
• Existing personalized methods may yield results that are difficult to interpret.
• Hallux valgus can present with diverse plantar pressure distributions.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce PAPPI (Personalized Analysis of Plantar Pressure Images) for individualized plantar pressure analysis.
• Establish a statistical model of healthy plantar pressure baselines using demographic data.
• Evaluate PAPPI's ability to identify and interpret abnormal pressure patterns in hallux valgus patients.

Main Methods:

• Developed PAPPI based on statistical modeling of healthy control plantar pressures and demographics.
• Utilized statistical parametric mapping to compare individual patient pressures against the healthy baseline.
• Applied PAPPI to a cohort of 50 hallux valgus patients, correlating findings with pain scores and radiographic measurements.

Main Results:

• PAPPI identified 5 distinct abnormal plantar pressure patterns in the hallux valgus cohort, refuting a single homogeneous pattern.
• Increased pressure under metatarsal 1 was associated with reduced foot pain.
• Abnormal heel pressures correlated with more severe hallux valgus angles and increased foot pain.
• Pes planus incidence was higher in the hallux valgus cohort compared to modeled healthy controls.

Conclusions:

• PAPPI provides quantitative, interpretable, and personalized analysis of plantar pressure images.
• The method clarifies discrepancies in previous group-level studies.
• PAPPI demonstrates potential for improved understanding and management of foot conditions like hallux valgus.