College of Health and Rehabilitation Science, Sargent College, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2021 Nov 29;16(11):e0260398. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260398. eCollection 2021.
Foot arch structure contributes to lower-limb joint mechanics and gait in adults with obesity. However, it is not well-known if excessive weight and arch height together affect gait mechanics compared to the effects of excessive weight and arch height alone. The purpose of this study was to determine the influences of arch height and obesity on gait mechanics in adults. In this study, 1) dynamic plantar pressure, 2) spatiotemporal gait parameters, 3) foot progression angle, and 4) ankle and knee joint angles and moments were collected in adults with normal weight with normal arch heights (n = 11), normal weight with lower arch heights (n = 10), obesity with normal arch heights (n = 8), and obesity with lower arch heights (n = 18) as they walked at their preferred speed and at a pedestrian standard walking speed, 1.25 m/s. Digital foot pressure data were used to compute a measure of arch height, the Chippaux-Smirak Index (CSI). Our results revealed that BMI and arch height were each associated with particular measures of ankle and knee joint mechanics during walking in healthy young adults: (i) a higher BMI with greater peak internal ankle plantar-flexion moment and (ii) a lower arch height with greater peak internal ankle eversion and abduction moments and peak internal knee abduction moment (i.e., external knee adduction moment). Our results have implications for understanding the role of arch height in reducing musculoskeletal injury risks, improving gait, and increasing physical activity for people living with obesity.
足弓结构有助于肥胖成年人下肢关节力学和步态。然而，目前还不清楚超重和足弓高度同时是否比单独超重和足弓高度更能影响步态力学。本研究的目的是确定足弓高度和肥胖对成年人步态力学的影响。在这项研究中，1）动态足底压力，2）时空步态参数，3）足进角，以及 4）踝关节和膝关节角度和力矩，在以下人群中进行了测量：正常体重和正常足弓高度的成年人（n=11），正常体重和低足弓高度的成年人（n=10），正常体重和正常足弓高度的肥胖成年人（n=8），以及肥胖和低足弓高度的成年人（n=18），他们以自己喜欢的速度和行人标准行走速度（1.25 m/s）行走。数字足底压力数据用于计算足弓高度的一个衡量指标，即 Chippaux-Smirak 指数（CSI）。我们的研究结果表明，BMI 和足弓高度都与健康年轻成年人行走时踝关节和膝关节力学的特定指标有关：（i）较高的 BMI 与更大的踝关节内侧跖屈峰值内力矩有关，（ii）较低的足弓高度与更大的踝关节内翻和外展峰值内力矩以及膝关节内收峰值内力矩（即膝关节外展峰值内力矩）有关。我们的研究结果对于理解足弓高度在降低肌肉骨骼损伤风险、改善步态和增加肥胖人群身体活动方面的作用具有重要意义。
