The relationship between body mass and peak and mean plantar pressure

Background The correlation between foot and ankle pathologies and plantar pressure variables has previously been documented in the literature. One of the premises underlying this correlation is the role of increasing body mass on the magnitude of forces acting upon the foot in locomotion, such as the normal force measurable with plantar pressure equipment. Previously, only a limited number of studies have investigated this relationship in the form of plantar pressure variables such as peak and mean pressure in nonpathological adult populations during walking. This study aimed to investigate the effect of increasing body mass added at known intervals on peak and mean plantar pressure variables in healthy adult subjects during walking.