Effects of walking speeds and durations on the plantar pressure gradient and pressure gradient angle
Abstract Background Walking exercise has been demonstrated to improve health in people with diabetes. However, it is largely unknown the influences of various walking intensities such as walking speeds and durations on dynamic plantar pressure distributions in non-diabetics and diabetics. Traditiona...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05771-2 |
| _version_ | 1798004332175556608 |
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| author | Chi-Wen Lung Pu-Chun Mo Chunmei Cao Keying Zhang Fu-Lien Wu Ben-Yi Liau Yih-Kuen Jan |
| author_facet | Chi-Wen Lung Pu-Chun Mo Chunmei Cao Keying Zhang Fu-Lien Wu Ben-Yi Liau Yih-Kuen Jan |
| author_sort | Chi-Wen Lung |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Walking exercise has been demonstrated to improve health in people with diabetes. However, it is largely unknown the influences of various walking intensities such as walking speeds and durations on dynamic plantar pressure distributions in non-diabetics and diabetics. Traditional methods ignoring time-series changes of plantar pressure patterns may not fully capture the effect of walking intensities on plantar tissues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various walking intensities on the dynamic plantar pressure distributions. In this study, we introduced the peak pressure gradient (PPG) and its dynamic patterns defined as the pressure gradient angle (PGA) to quantify dynamic changes of plantar pressure distributions during walking at various intensities. Methods Twelve healthy participants (5 males and 7 females) were recruited in this study. The demographic data were: age, 27.1 ± 5.8 years; height, 1.7 ± 0.1 m; and weight, 63.5 ± 13.5 kg (mean ± standard deviation). An insole plantar pressure measurement system was used to measure plantar pressures during walking at three walking speeds (slow walking 1.8 mph, brisk walking 3.6 mph, and slow running 5.4 mph) for two durations (10 and 20 min). The gradient at a location is defined as the unique vector field in the two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system with a Euclidean metric. PGA was calculated by quantifying the directional variation of the instantaneous peak gradient vector during stance phase of walking. PPG and PGA were calculated in the plantar regions of the first toe, first metatarsal head, second metatarsal head, and heel at higher risk for foot ulcers. Two-way ANOVA with Fisher’s post-hoc analysis was used to examine the speed and duration factors on PPG and PGA. Results The results showed that the walking speeds significantly affect PPG (P < 0.05) and PGA (P < 0.05), and the walking durations does not. No interaction between the walking duration and speed was observed. PPG in the first toe region after 5.4 mph for either 10 or 20 min was significantly higher than 1.8 mph. Meanwhile, after 3.6 mph for 20 min, PPG in the heel region was significantly higher than 1.8 mph. Results also indicate that PGA in the forefoot region after 3.6 mph for 20 min was significantly narrower than 1.8 mph. Conclusions Our findings indicate that people may walk at a slow speed at 1.8 mph for reducing PPG and preventing PGA concentrated over a small area compared to brisk walking at 3.6 mph and slow running at 5.4 mph. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:21:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5238c08235440979a8502850f6e6901 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2474 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:21:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5238c08235440979a8502850f6e69012022-12-22T04:24:04ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742022-08-0123111510.1186/s12891-022-05771-2Effects of walking speeds and durations on the plantar pressure gradient and pressure gradient angleChi-Wen Lung0Pu-Chun Mo1Chunmei Cao2Keying Zhang3Fu-Lien Wu4Ben-Yi Liau5Yih-Kuen Jan6Rehabilitation Engineering Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignRehabilitation Engineering Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDivision of Sports Science and Physical Education, Tsinghua UniversityDivision of Sports Science and Physical Education, Tsinghua UniversityRehabilitation Engineering Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Hungkuang UniversityRehabilitation Engineering Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignAbstract Background Walking exercise has been demonstrated to improve health in people with diabetes. However, it is largely unknown the influences of various walking intensities such as walking speeds and durations on dynamic plantar pressure distributions in non-diabetics and diabetics. Traditional methods ignoring time-series changes of plantar pressure patterns may not fully capture the effect of walking intensities on plantar tissues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various walking intensities on the dynamic plantar pressure distributions. In this study, we introduced the peak pressure gradient (PPG) and its dynamic patterns defined as the pressure gradient angle (PGA) to quantify dynamic changes of plantar pressure distributions during walking at various intensities. Methods Twelve healthy participants (5 males and 7 females) were recruited in this study. The demographic data were: age, 27.1 ± 5.8 years; height, 1.7 ± 0.1 m; and weight, 63.5 ± 13.5 kg (mean ± standard deviation). An insole plantar pressure measurement system was used to measure plantar pressures during walking at three walking speeds (slow walking 1.8 mph, brisk walking 3.6 mph, and slow running 5.4 mph) for two durations (10 and 20 min). The gradient at a location is defined as the unique vector field in the two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system with a Euclidean metric. PGA was calculated by quantifying the directional variation of the instantaneous peak gradient vector during stance phase of walking. PPG and PGA were calculated in the plantar regions of the first toe, first metatarsal head, second metatarsal head, and heel at higher risk for foot ulcers. Two-way ANOVA with Fisher’s post-hoc analysis was used to examine the speed and duration factors on PPG and PGA. Results The results showed that the walking speeds significantly affect PPG (P < 0.05) and PGA (P < 0.05), and the walking durations does not. No interaction between the walking duration and speed was observed. PPG in the first toe region after 5.4 mph for either 10 or 20 min was significantly higher than 1.8 mph. Meanwhile, after 3.6 mph for 20 min, PPG in the heel region was significantly higher than 1.8 mph. Results also indicate that PGA in the forefoot region after 3.6 mph for 20 min was significantly narrower than 1.8 mph. Conclusions Our findings indicate that people may walk at a slow speed at 1.8 mph for reducing PPG and preventing PGA concentrated over a small area compared to brisk walking at 3.6 mph and slow running at 5.4 mph.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05771-2Diabetic foot ulcersPeak plantar pressurePeak pressure gradientPressure gradient angleWalking durationsWalking speeds |
| spellingShingle | Chi-Wen Lung Pu-Chun Mo Chunmei Cao Keying Zhang Fu-Lien Wu Ben-Yi Liau Yih-Kuen Jan Effects of walking speeds and durations on the plantar pressure gradient and pressure gradient angle BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Diabetic foot ulcers Peak plantar pressure Peak pressure gradient Pressure gradient angle Walking durations Walking speeds |
| title | Effects of walking speeds and durations on the plantar pressure gradient and pressure gradient angle |
| title_full | Effects of walking speeds and durations on the plantar pressure gradient and pressure gradient angle |
| title_fullStr | Effects of walking speeds and durations on the plantar pressure gradient and pressure gradient angle |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of walking speeds and durations on the plantar pressure gradient and pressure gradient angle |
| title_short | Effects of walking speeds and durations on the plantar pressure gradient and pressure gradient angle |
| title_sort | effects of walking speeds and durations on the plantar pressure gradient and pressure gradient angle |
| topic | Diabetic foot ulcers Peak plantar pressure Peak pressure gradient Pressure gradient angle Walking durations Walking speeds |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05771-2 |
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