Plantar pressures determinants in mild Hallux Valgus

• Published in: Gait & posture Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 425 - 427
• Main Authors: Martínez-Nova, Alfonso, Sánchez-Rodríguez, Raquel, Pérez-Soriano, Pedro, Llana-Belloch, Salvador, Leal-Muro, Alejo, Pedrera-Zamorano, Juan Diego
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01-07-2010
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Biofoot/IBV; Case-Control Studies; Determinants; Female; Foot - physiopathology; Hallux Valgus; Hallux Valgus - diagnosis; Hallux Valgus - surgery; Humans; In-shoe system; Male; Metatarsal Bones - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Orthopedics; Osteotomy - methods; Pain Measurement; Plantar pressures; Podiatry - instrumentation; Pressure; Reference Values; Regression Analysis; Shoes; Determinants; In-shoe system; Biofoot/IBV; Plantar pressures; Hallux Valgus
• ISSN: 0966-6362; 1879-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2010.06.015

Abstract While podobarometric techniques have been applied to the study of pressures in Hallux Valgus (HV), little is known about its clinical and radiological determinants. So, the aim of the present study was to determine the plantar pressure pattern in participants with mild HV, comparing to a control group, and their clinical and anthropometric determinants. Biofoot/IBV® in-shoe system was used to evaluate 79 participants with mild HV. Computerized measurements of the 1st intermetatarsal angle (IMA) and the hallux abductus angle (HAA) were made on antero-posterior radiographs. The clinical outcome was assessed using the AOFAS score. The dependent baropodometric variables and the independent clinical and anthropometric variables were subjected to a multiple regression analysis. In both groups, the highest average pressure was in the 2nd metatarsal head (MTH). The mean pressure under the Hallux was significantly higher in HV group (controls, 146.5 ± 92.5 kPa; HV, 328.5 ± 113.2 kPa; p < 0.001). An 18.6% of average pressure under the 1st MTH was accounted for pain, first ray alignment and total AOFAS score. Variations of the HAA explained 26.8% of the mean Hallux pressure. Women with mild HV present with pathologically increased pressure under the Hallux, which is caused by the altered alignment of the first ray. Pain and clinical result were associated with the pressure under the 1st MTH and the remaining variables were only moderate predictors of dynamic plantar pressures.