Biosignals by In-Shoe Plantar Pressure Sensors on Different Hardness Mats during Running: A Cross-Over Study

Featured Application Running on soft polyurethane foam mats presented reduced maximum plantar forces. Soft mats reduced the peak pressures of the anterior part of the foot plantar region. Air chamber mats increased calcaneus and first metatarsal head peak pressures. The mechanical behavior of hardness mats impacts running plantar pressures. Future studies should replicate this study in patients with different conditions. Although the effects of running on plantar pressures have been detailed on several surfaces with different hardness, there is a lack of studies assessing the mechanical behavior analysis by in-shoe plantar pressure sensors on different hardness mats during running. The aim of the present study was to determine in-shoe maximum forces and peak plantar pressures on mats with different hardness, such as hard, soft and air chamber mats, during running. A cross-over study was carried out including 36 amateur runners from a sport center. The maximum force and peak pressures of the foot plantar region were analyzed on three different mat hardnesses -soft and hard polyurethane foam mats and air chamber mats-by in-shoe instrumented insoles. Running on soft polyurethane foam mats presented reduced maximum forces in the whole plantar region and mainly peak pressures in the anterior part of the foot plantar region, such as the toes and first to fourth metatarsal heads, compared to hard polyurethane foam and air chamber mats. The peak pressure in the fifth metatarsal head was specifically reduced during running on soft compared to hard polyurethane foam mats, and running on these soft mats decreased calcaneus peak pressures compared to running on air chamber mats. Running on air chamber mats increased peak plantar pressures in the first metatarsal head compared to running on hard polyurethane foam mats. The mechanical behavior of mats of different hardness could be used to adjust the degree of impact on plantar pressures to determine the most appropriate materials and hardness for running.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the maximum forces and peak plantar pressures on mats with different hardness during running. Running on soft polyurethane foam mats decreased the maximum forces and peak pressures in the whole plantar region and mainly in the anterior part of the foot plantar region. Air chamber mats increased the peak pressures in the calcaneus and first metatarsal head.