What are the effects of obesity in children on plantar pressure distributions?

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity 2004-11, Vol.28 (11), p.1514-1519
• Main Authors: Dowling, A M, Steele, J R, Baur, L A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Biological and medical sciences; Body mass index; Epidemiology; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Obesity; Overweight; Pressure distribution; Public Health
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802729

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of obesity on static and dynamic plantar pressure distributions displayed by children. DESIGN: Field-based experimental data on body mass index (BMI) and plantar pressures were collected for 10 obese children and 10 nonobese controls. SUBJECTS: In all, 10 obese (age 8.8±2.0 y, BMI 25.8±3.8 kg m −2 ) children matched to 10 nonobese children (age 8.9±2.1 y, BMI 16.8±2.0 kg m −2 ), for gender, age and height. MEASUREMENTS: Height and weight were measured to calculate BMI. Right and left foot plantar pressures were obtained using an AT-4 emed ® pressure platform (Novel gmbh , Munich) to calculate the peak force and pressure experienced under areas of each child's feet during static and dynamic conditions. RESULTS: While standing, the obese children generated significantly higher forces over a larger foot area and experienced significantly higher plantar pressures compared to their nonobese counterparts (41.8±17.7; 30.1±12.0 N cm −2 , respectively; P