Clinical Applications of Plantar Pressure Measurement

TL;DR

This paper reviews various plantar pressure measurement devices, their technologies, clinical applications, and suggests future orthopaedic uses to improve patient care.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of existing plantar pressure technologies, their clinical relevance, and explores new orthopaedic applications.

Findings

Different sensor technologies have specific advantages and disadvantages.

Various clinical applications are enabled by plantar pressure measurements.

Future orthopaedic uses can enhance patient care.

Abstract

Plantar pressure measurements can provide valuable insight into various health characteristics in patients. In this study, we describe different plantar pressure devices available on the market and their clinical relevance. Current devices are either platform-based or wearable and consist of a variety of sensor technologies: resistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, and optical. The measurements collected from any of these sensors can be utilized for a range of clinical applications including patients with diabetes, trauma, deformity and cerebral palsy, stroke, cervical myelopathy, ankle instability, sports injuries, and Parkinsons disease. However, the proper technology should be selected based on the clinical need and the type of tests being performed on the device. In this review we provide the reader with a simple overview of the existing technologies their advantages and disadvantages and provide application examples for each. Moreover, we suggest new areas in orthopaedic that plantar pressure mapping technology can be utilized for increased quality of care.