Comparison of Plantar Force, Pressure and Impulse During Walking in Men and Women With Flat Feet

Objective: This study aims to compare the variables of plantar force, pressure and impulse during walking in men and women with flat feet. Methods: The study population consists of non-athlete students with and without flat feet. Of these, 48 (male and female) were selected as study samples. The peak pressure, force and impulse on the foot were measured during walking by a foot scanner at a sampling frequency of 253 Hz. Shapiro-Wilks test was used to examine the normality of data distribution, and data analysis was performed using MANOVA in SPSS software, considering the significance level at P<0.05. Results: Men with flat feet had more peak plantar pressure and force in the midfoot than healthy men, and more peak plantar pressure on the hallux. Women with flat feet had more peak plantar pressure and force on the hallux, toes T2-T3-T4-T5, M2 metatarsal head, and midfoot than healthy women. Men with flat feet had peak plantar pressure on the M4 metatarsal head than women with flat feet. Men with flat feet had different plantar impulses in the hallux, M2 metatarsal head, and lateral heal. Women with flat feet had more plantar impulses in the hallux, toes T2-T3-T4-T5, and midfoot than healthy women. There was a significant difference between men and women with flat feet in plantar impulses in metatarsal heads M3 and M4, midfoot, and lateral and medial heels Conclusion: Different effects of gender and sole structure on the distribution of plantar pressure should be considered in the production and design of shoes, medical insoles and special sports footwear.