PLANTAR PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION AS A BIOMECHANICAL MARKER OF BALANCE IMPAIRMENT IN NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS: A SENSOR PLATE– BASED OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: The foot is the primary interface between the body and the ground, and excessive loading of
the foot is a frequent occurrence in neurological gait and balance disorders. The sensor plate technology
provides objective and quantitative measurements of the plantar pressure distribution, providing data on
the biomechanical mechanisms of plantar instability that is not available through observational assessment.
Objective: To evaluate plantar pressure distribution using sensor plate technology in patients with
neurological disorders related to gait and balance impairment and to investigate the relationship of plantar
pressure distribution with center of pressure (COP) and the combined effect of plantar pressure
distribution and age on postural instability.
Methods: Fifty patients (20–70 years) with gait and balance impairment due to a neurological condition
were assessed using a sensor plate for plantar pressure. The correlation and regression analyses were used
to investigate the relationship between the plantar pressure, COP and age.
Results: Mean pre-evaluation plantar pressure was 348 ± 18 kPa, reducing to 298 ± 15 kPa post-
evaluation (t = 8.90, p < 0.001). Plantar pressure correlated strongly and positively with COP (r = 0.81, p <
0.001). The regression analysis revealed that age and plantar pressure accounted for 68% of the variance in
COP (R² = 0.68). The overall improvement of the balance related parameters was approximately 24%.
Conclusion: Elevated plantar pressure is strongly related to postural instability in neurological patients,
and together with age, explains a significant amount of the variation in center of pressure, suggesting that
plantar pressure may be a clinically relevant, modifiable target for balance focused rehabilitation.