The Study of Correlation between Foot-pressure Distribution and Scoliosis

摘要

The foot-pressure while walking represents the status of the geometrical balance of the human's musculoskeletal system. The foot-pressure in unbalanced anatomical position causes physiological disorders to the human body and accumulates stress to the musculoskeletal system. Repetitious abnormal impacts become the direct cause of vertebrae disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between the degree of scoliosis and the foot-pressure distribution in twenty males who have no clinical history of vertebral disease. The F-scan system(Tekscan Inc., USA, 850Hz sampling frequency) was used to measure the foot-pressure. The sole was divided into 7 regions of interest(ROI), and an analysis was performed for these ROIs. The degree of scoliosis was expressed as the angle, calculated with X-ray image, which showed lumbar vertebra number 5 to thoracic vertebra number 7. This angle was used to evaluate the correlations with the result of the foot-pressure analysis. Measurement of foot-pressure on the subjects was executed using the same protocol. The correlation between the measured foot-pressure and the degree of scoliosis was evaluated under a 0.05 level of significance. The results of the evaluation revealed the tendency that, as the degree of scoliosis increases, a difference in foot-pressure also increases. The variables used for analysis showed high correlations. The obtained results will be used to determine the occurrence of vertebra and lower limb disease and to present a qualitative evaluation basis for the rehabilitation of patients with lower limb disease.