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Background: Hallux valgus (HV) is one common deformity of the human foot. Metatarsal pain, gait deviation and foot function disorder may occur when HV is severe.Research Question: It was hypothesized that a 12-week minimalist shoes running intervention among mild and moderate hallux valgus males may alter foot morphology and plantar pressure distribution during walking and running.Methods: The foot morphology and plantar pressure data, in this study, were collected from eleven participants using the Easy-Foot-Scan (EFS) and Novel EMED force plate.Results: Compared to pre-intervention sessions, the hallux abductus angle and forefoot width decreased significantly with increased metatarsal waist girth in the post-intervention session. The peak pressure, maximum force and force time integral in the first metatarsal reduced significantly due to the distribution of plantar pressure to the central foot regions.Significance: The findings suggest that minimalist shoes may deform forefoot morphology and neutralize loading concentration for mild and moderate hallux valgus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We examined age-related plantar pressure changes in young children. [•] Regional pressures increased with age at the central metatarsals and medial midfoot. [•] Pixel data disagreed with regional midfoot and heel data and were also more detailed. [•] Pixel data showed that children's feet tend to become longer and narrower with age. [•] Pixel-level analysis overcomes regional analysis’ inadequate spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pedobarographic images reflect the dynamic interaction between the plantar foot and supporting surfaces during gait and postural activities. Since intra-foot and inter-subject contact geometry are grossly similar, images may be spatially registered and directly compared. Previously arbitrary subjects have been selected as registration templates, but this can conceivably introduce anatomical bias. The purposes of this study were: (i) to compute an unbiased pedobarographic template from a large sample of healthy young adult subjects, and (ii) to demonstrate how the resulting template may be used for practical clinical and scientific analyses. Images were obtained from N =104 subjects and were registered (10,712 pairs) using (i) an optimal linear scaling technique and (ii) a nonlinear, locally affine, globally smooth technique. The nonlinear technique was found to offer biomechanically non-trivial advantages over the linear technique, most likely due to non-proportional inter-subject geometry. Specifically, the nonlinear template was able to detect morphological signals in a hallux valgus sample with greater sensitivity than the linear template. Validity of the approach was confirmed by independently assessing left and right feet, through a statistical comparison of local maximal pressures, and also through examination of random subject subsets. The current template, representative of an average healthy foot, could be a valuable resource for automated clinical and scientific analyses of foot morphology and function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To clarify the magnitude of shape change during walking, the shapes of four cross-sections (Forefoot, Instep, Navicular, and Heel) of the right foot during standing and walking were measured using a four-dimensional measurement system we developed (14Hz) with an accuracy of ±0.5mm. Images of the sole were measured using a high-speed video camera (120Hz). Cross-section shapes and derived dimensions were compared between the standing condition, first peak (P1), and midstance valley of two peaks (MSV) of vGRF during walking. Heel and Navicular cross-sections were more laterally inclined during walking than during standing by 6° on average. Compared to at standing, breadth of the cross-section in contact with the ground was wider at the heel and instep at timing P1, and was wider at the forefoot and narrower at heel at timing MSV. Medial length was longer and dorsal arch was higher during walking than during standing. Plantar arch height did not differ between the three conditions. The maximum difference in plantar arch height between standing and P1 was 1.3mm, much smaller than the inter-individual variation of 7mm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]