Article

This study investigated the between-day reliability of footprint geometric and
plantar loading measurements on children utilising the Emed((R)) M pressure
measurement device. Bilateral footprints (static and dynamic) and foot loading
measurements using the two-step gait method were collected on 21 children two
days apart (age = 9.9 +/- 1.8 years; mass = 34.6 +/- 8.9 kg; height = 1.38 +/-
0.12 m). Static and dynamic footprint geometric (lengths, widths and angles) and
dynamic loading (pressures, forces, contact areas and contact time) parameters
were compared. Intraclass correlation coefficients of static geometric parameters
were varied (0.19-0.96), while superior results were achieved with dynamic
geometric (0.66-0.98) and loading variables (0.52-0.94), with the exception of
left contact time (0.37). Standard error of measurement recorded small absolute
disparity for all geometric (length = 0.1-0.3 cm; arch index = 0.00-0.01; subarch
angle = 0.6-6.2 degrees ; left/right foot progression angle = 0.5 degrees /0.7
degrees ) and loading (peak pressure = 2.3-16.2 kPa; maximum force = 0.3-3.0%;
total contact area = 0.28-0.49 cm(2); % contact area = 0.1-0.6%; contact time =
32-79 ms) variables. Coefficient of variation displayed widest spread for static
geometry (1.1-27.6%) followed by dynamic geometry (0.8-22.5%) and smallest spread
for loading (1.3-16.8%) parameters. Limits of agreement (95%) were narrower in
dynamic than static geometric parameters. Overall, the reliability of most
dynamic geometric and loading parameters was good and excellent. Static
electronic footprint measurements on children are not recommended due to their
light body mass which results in incomplete footprints.
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Langue : ANGLAIS