The influence of gender and age on foot structure and plantar pressure in asymptomatic adults

Rogerio, Fernando Raphael Pinto Guedes; Guedes, Dartagnan Pinto

doi:10.1590/1980-0037.2023v25e86693

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Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano

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Original Article • Rev. bras. cineantropom. desempenho hum. 25 • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-0037.2023v25e86693 copy

The influence of gender and age on foot structure and plantar pressure in asymptomatic adults

Influência de sexo e idade na estrutura do pé e pressão plantar em adultos assintomáticos

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

The aim of the study was identify the influence of gender and age of healthy adults on the foot structure and the plantar pressure during gait. Sample comprising 608 women and men participants. To identify the structure of the foot, anthropometric measurements of both the total and the truncated length of the foot, the width of the forefoot, and the heights of the back and navicular were taken. Peak pressure and plantar contact area in three foot-masks (forefoot, middle foot, and hindfoot) were considered markers of plantar pressure. The data were analyzed by two-way variance analysis. No significant influence of age on the foot structure dimensions was identified; however, women presented measures equivalent to the five significantly smaller anthropometric markers. As for the peak plantar pressure, both males and females showed statistically similar values, but significant differences were observed for age. As to the plantar contact area, while age did not have significant influence, men showed significantly higher values in the three foot-masks. The findings suggest that gender influences the foot structure and the plantar contact area, while age influences the peak of plantar pressure.

Key words:
Adults; Foot; Gait analysis; Pressure

		Age (years)
		18 - 34	35 - 54	≥ 55	F Test
		(n = 188)	(n = 316)	(n = 104)	Sex	Age
Height (cm)	♀	164.85 ± 6.31	162.75 ± 7.25	162.62 ± 6.13	362.40	3.351
Height (cm)	♂	176.44 ± 8.09	177.04 ± 7.48	174.06 ± 7.90	p < 0.001	ns
Body weight (kg)	♀	64.10 ± 15.73	67.95 ± 12.54	67.43 ±10.57	137.36	4.750
Body weight (kg)	♂	79.35 ± 15.64	83.38 ± 14.36	80.99 ± 10.25	p < 0.001	p = 0.009
Body mass index (kg/m²)	♀	23.50 ± 5.01	25.68 ± 4.65	25.54 ±4.12	11.98	10.614
Body mass index (kg/m²)	♂	25.37 ± 4.10	26.49 ± 3.36	26.70 ± 2.94	p = 0.001	p < 0.000

		Age (years)
		18 - 34	35 - 54	≥ 55		F Test
		(a)	(b)	(c)	Sex	Age	Post-Hoc
Total length of the foot (cm)	♀	24.30 ± 1.60	24.72 ± 2.02	24.69 ± 1.84	131.85	3.351
Total length of the foot (cm)	♂	27.89 ± 5.18	27.56 ± 2.39	27.06 ± 1.95	p < 0.001	ns
Truncated length of the foot (cm)	♀	17.72 ± 1.92	17.95 ± 2.78	17.96 ± 1.73	112.260	1.512
Truncated length of the foot (cm)	♂	20.22 ± 2.11	20.59 ± 2.75	19.85± 1.91	p < 0.001	ns
Height of the back of the foot (cm)	♀	6.84 ± 0.78	6.79 ± 0.82	6.78 ± 0.70	18.145	0.175
Height of the back of the foot (cm)	♂	7.06 ± 0.91	7.15 ± 1.01	7.25 ± 0.92	p < 0.001	ns
Forefoot width (cm)	♀	9.12 ± 0.64	9.12 ± 0.54	9.37 ± 0.59	127.900	3.129	a = b < c
Forefoot width (cm)	♂	9.50 ± 0.92	10.08 ± 0.96	10.23 ± 1.49	p < 0.001	p = 0.042	a = b < c
Height of the navicular (cm)	♀	4.04 ± 0.70	4.14 ± 0.67	3.97 ± 0.56	72.149	1.281
Height of the navicular (cm)	♂	4.53 ± 0.86	4.66 ± 0.88	4.76 ± 0.73	p < 0.001	ns
Height of the navicular normalized (cm)	♀	0.16 ± 0.02	0.16 ± 0.02	0.16 ± 0.02	3.431	0.641
Height of the navicular normalized (cm)	♂	0.16 ± 0.03	0.17 ± 0.30	0.17 ± 0.02	ns	ns

		Age (years)
		18 - 34	35 - 54	≥ 55		F Test
		(a)	(b)	(c)	Sex	Age	Post-Hoc
Plantar Peak Pressure (kPa)
Forefoot	♀	2.05 ± 0.36	2.01 ± 0.34	2.04 ± 0.35	1.520	2.433
Forefoot	♂	2.04 ± 0.31	1.95 ± 0.30	2.01 ± 0.33	ns	ns
Midfoot	♀	0.72 ± 0.56	0.67 ± 0.51	0.92 ± 0.51	0.010	5.845	a = b < c
Midfoot	♂	0.50 ± 0.47	0.65 ± 0.44	0.73 ± 0.46	ns	p = 0.003	a = b < c
Hindfoot	♀	1.88 ± 0.40	1.69 ± 0.37	1.68 ± 0.38	0.083	10.005	a > b = c
Hindfoot	♂	1.80 ± 0.33	1.69 ± 0.33	1.73 ± 0.36	ns	p < 0.001	a > b = c
Plantar Contact Area (cm²)
Forefoot	♀	55.85 ± 8.92	56.04 ± 9.46	58.59 ± 11.25	85.583	1.881
Forefoot	♂	64.35 ± 10.55	65.57 ± 9.72	66.55 ± 10.66	p < 0.001	ns
Midfoot	♀	10.06± 5.57	11.21 ± 5.02	12.86 ± 4.56	18.439	0.454
Midfoot	♂	14.54 ± 5.75	13.22 ± 5.07	12.76 ± 5.17	p < 0.001	ns
Hindfoot	♀	35.87 ± 6.89	37.26 ± 6.37	38.59 ± 6.19	69.419	0.388
Hindfoot	♂	43.05± 7.18	42.69 ± 6.12	41.39 ± 6.50	p < 0.001	ns

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[1] Corresponding author Fernando Raphael Pinto Guedes Rogerio. Universidade Norte do Paraná Rua Marselha, 183, Jd. Piza, Londrina (PR), Brasil. E-mail: fernandopintoguedes@hotmail.com