SYMMETRY OF IN-SHOE PLANTAR PRESSURE DURING RUNNING

Abstract

Symmetry during foot contact was studied during running on a treadmill at 8 and 14 km ·hr-1. In-shoe pressure was sampled during 4 right and 4 left foot contacts at each velocity. Symmetry indices (SI) were calculated for the heel, forefoot and hallux based on peak area pressure. SI was also calculated for the maximal force. Mean SIs were tested in relation to the null hypothesis of perfect symmetry (SI=0) and for differences between velocities. Bi-variate correlation coefficients were computed between all pairs of SI indices to assess velocity and area specificity. There was no evidence for velocity specificity of SI. Conversely, SI proved to be area specific. It was concluded that SI of the maximal force can not represent asymmetry in plantar pressure at the three areas of the foot.