Article

In pes cavus, the medial longitudinal arch elevation reduces the
contact surface area and consequently increases the corresponding plantar
pressure measurements. This poor distribution of loads may produce associated
pathology and pain in this or other areas of the body. Normal reference values
need to be established in order to determine which patterns are prone to
pathology. OBJECTIVES: To compare the plantar pressures and weight-bearing
surface in a population with pes cavus to a population with neutral feet. METHOD:
The sample comprised 68 adults, 34 with pes cavus and 34 with neutral feet. The
Footscan USB Gait Clinical System((R)) was used as a platform to measure the
total contact area and plantar pressure under the forefoot, midfoot, hindfoot,
each metatarsal head, and the overall metatarsal area. A statistical analysis of
the data was performed using Student's t-test for independent samples. RESULTS:
The pes cavus subjects showed a significant reduction in their weight-bearing
area [neutral feet: 165.04 ( +/- 20.68) cm(2); pes cavus: 118.26 ( +/- 30.31)
cm(2); p < 0.001] and significantly increased pressures under all zones of the
forefoot except the fifth metatarsal [metatarsal pressure: in neutral feet
503,797 ( +/- 9.32) kPa; in pes cavus 656.12 ( +/- 22.39) kPa; p < 0.001].
CONCLUSIONS: Compared to neutral feet, pes cavus feet show a reduction in total
contact surface and the load under the first toe. A significant increase is
present in the load under the metatarsal areas, but the relative distribution of
this load is similar in both groups.
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