The Combination of Modified Mitchell's Osteotomy and Shortening Oblique Osteotomy for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Analysis of Changes in Plantar Pressure Distribution

Bipedal Static Supination and Dynamic Forefoot Loading Characteristics in Taiwanese College Badminton Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

CONTEXT

Badminton is a unilateral sport that involves repetitive jumping, lunging and quick changes of direction with the lower limb, thus, plantar pressure profiles and foot postural profiles are critical to maintaining balance and coordination.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of static and dynamic plantar pressure profiles with rearfoot posture in elite and recreational badminton players as well as assess the transitional changes of plantar loads between static and dynamic states.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 65 college-level elite male badminton players (mean age: 20.2 ± 1.2 years; mean height: 177.4 ± 4.6 cm; mean weight: 72.6 ± 4.6 kg) and 68 recreational badminton players of the same gender (mean age: 19.9 ± 0.8 years; mean height: 170.3 ± 3.9 cm; mean weight: 67.7 ± 3.2 kg). The JC Mat was used to evaluate the arch index (AI), plantar pressure distribution (PPD), centers of gravity, and the characteristics of the footprint. Static foot posture was determined by examining the rearfoot alignment.

RESULTS

Both groups' AI fell within the normal range. The static plantar loads of the elite group were distributed at the bipedal lateral part of longitudinal arches and heels (p < 0.01), while the right foot experienced higher centers of gravity (p < 0.05). The elite group's static rearfoot postural alignment exhibited a higher degree of rearfoot varus than the recreational group (p < 0.05). In addition, the elite group's dynamic plantar loads were mainly exerted at the medial and lateral metatarsals of both feet (p < 0.05). During the transition state, the recreational group's plantar loads were mainly shifted to the bipedal lateral part of metatarsals and heels (p < 0.05), whereas the elite group's bipedal lateral longitudinal arches as well as the medial and lateral heels experienced a reduction in plantar loads (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

For elite badminton players, the findings revealed a possible connection among the static supinated foot, centers of gravity tending towards the right foot, and increased forefoot plantar loads in the dynamic state. The finding merits further exploration of the possible links between transitional changes in plantar pressure distribution in both states and related foot injuries resulting from intense competition and regular training in badminton.

Plantar pressure alterations associated with increased BMI in young adults

BACKGROUND

Despite evidence suggesting that excess weight is linked to gait alterations and foot disorders, its effect on peak plantar pressure (PPP) variability and complexity during walking remains poorly understood.

RESEARCH QUESTION

This study aimed to examine the influence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25) on the dynamic PPP distribution during gait using traditional and nonlinear dynamic measures in young college students.

METHODS

Fifty-two overweight (BMI >25, average 29.3 ± 4.02) and sixty-four control college students (BMI<25, 21.7 ± 1.76) aged 18-25 years, walked across a Tekscan gait assessment system at their preferred speed. A t-test or a Mann Whitney U test was used for analysis, subject to data normality. Kinematic, kinetic, spatiotemporal, and GaitEn (sample entropy of 2D spatial PPP maps) for window lengths (m=2) at various filtering levels (r) were used to explore the impact of BMI on PPP alterations.

RESULTS AND SIGNIFICANCE

The overweight group exhibited significantly higher mean PPP. The PPP under the forefoot region was also significantly higher for the overweight group as compared to the heel. The mean GaitEn values of overweight and control groups were found significantly different at r = (0.7-0.8) x STD, where GaitEn of the control group was relatively higher, which indicates better gait performance as compared to the overweight group in alignment with previous studies. A significant correlation of GaitEn with STD of PPP was revealed for the overweight group only, suggesting that overweight could significantly change the regularity or the complexity of the PPP series. Although no spatiotemporal parameters (stride length, step length, step width) were significantly affected by the increased BMI, GaitEn dynamic measure, along with spatiotemporal (decrease in gait velocity and cadence with increased BMI), and kinetic measures (increased maximum forces and plantar pressure with increased BMI), were significantly affected by overweight, indicating the feasibility of assessing the impact of increased BMI using pressure platforms in clinical settings.

Elite Tennis Players Experiencing High-Arched Supination and Cuboids Dropped Foot Syndromes in Daily Normal Gait

Many studies have focused on the plantar pressure characteristics of specific movements and footwork in tennis. However, little research has been conducted for exploring the foot characteristics among tennis professionals' daily habitual paces. This study aims to examine the pressure profiles associated with foot posture and balance abilities of elite tennis players during normal gait to understand how foot loading patterns result from habitual paces that may be derived from intensive tennis training and competition. A cross-sectional comparative study is conducted on 95 male college elite tennis players (mean age: 20.2 ± 1.2 years) and 100 male recreational tennis players (mean age: 19.8 ± 0.9 years). Bipedal plantar pressure distributions (PPDs) associated with arch index (AI) and centers of gravity balance are explored through the plantar pressure device. The foot posture is estimated to determine the rearfoot postural alignment. During the midstance phase of walking with a normal gait, the bipedal AI values of the elite group are significantly lower, indicating that they have high-arched feet. Additionally, the elite group experienced higher PPDs at the lateral regions of their longitudinal arches and heels and relatively lower PPDs at the medial portions of both feet. Rearfoot postural alignment resonance analysis of the PPDs suggests that the elite group experienced foot supination associated with cuboid dropped. Moreover, the right foot bears heavier centers of gravity balance in the present study. The elite tennis players in the study are categorized as having high-arched supination with cuboids dropped when performing daily habitual paces. This finding warrants further investigation into the correlation between possible injuries and daily habitual paces that may result from tennis' intensive training and competition.

Outcomes of Joint-Preserving Surgery for Rheumatoid Forefoot Deformity: An Editorial

In the past few decades, physicians have been able to effectively manage patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) thanks to advances in treatment strategies including molecular-targeting drugs [...].

Characteristics of Plantar Pressure with Foot Postures and Lower Limb Pain Profiles in Taiwanese College Elite Rugby League Athletes

Background: This study aimed to explore the differences in the distributions of plantar pressure in static and dynamic states and assess the possible pain profiles in the lower limb between elite rugby league athletes and recreational rugby players. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 51 college elite rugby athletes and 57 recreational rugby players was undertaken. The arch index (AI) and plantar pressure distributions (PPDs) with footprint characteristics were evaluated via the JC Mat. Rearfoot alignment was examined to evaluate the static foot posture. The elite group’s lower-limb pain profiles were examined for evaluating the common musculoskeletal pain areas. Results: The recreational group’s AI values fell into the normal range, whereas the elite group’s arch type fell into the category of the low arch. Results from the elite group were: (1) the PPDs mainly exerted on the entire forefoot and lateral midfoot regions in static standing, and transferred to the forefoot region during the midstance phase of walking; (2) the static rearfoot alignment matched the varus posture pattern; (3) the footprint characteristics illustrated the features of low-arched, supinated, dropped metatarsal heads and dropped cuboid feet; and (4) the phalanx and metatarsophalangeal joints, and the abductor hallucis and abductor digiti minimi of the plantar plate were common musculoskeletal pain areas. Conclusions: Characteristics of higher plantar loads beneath forefoot and midfoot associated with low-arched supinated feet in bipedal static stance could be the traceable features for the foot diagram of elite rugby league athletes. The limb pain profiles of the elite rugby league athletes within this study echoed the literature on rugby injuries, and reflected the features of metatarsophalangeal joint pains and dropped cuboids. The relationships among the low-arched supinated feet, metatarsophalangeal joint pains and cuboid syndrome are worth further studies.