HOW DO SPORTS AFFECT STATIC BAROPODOMETRY. AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY AMONG WOMEN LIVING IN SOUTHERN ITALY

Purpose: The aim of the study was (a) to investigate the differences in plantar pressure distribution between athletes (A) and sedentary (S) women; (b) to examine the differences, if any, in plantar pressure between sports within the A group.

Methods:  The study involved 173 females; 98 were S (age: 24.23 ± 6.11 years; height: 161.11 ± 6.44 cm; weight: 56.70 ± 8.19 kg; BMI: 21.81 ± 2.52 kg/m2; body surface area [BSA]: 1.59 ± 0.13; shoe size: 37.83 ± 1.53), 75 were A (age: 22.47 ± 4.89 years; height: 159.98 ± 5.95 cm; weight: 55.49 ± 7.61 kg; BMI: 21.62 ± 2.18 kg/m2; BSA: 1.57 ± 0.12; shoe size: 38.05 ± 1.55).

For plantar support analysis, the FreeMed posturography system was used, including the FreeMed baropodometric platform and FreeStep v. 1.0.3 software.

Results: No significant differences were found between groups regarding anthropometric data, in the total surface, fore-foot, rear-foot, total left or total right foot surface. Significant differences between S and A were observed in fore-foot (S: 50.39 ± 3.60%; A: 52.36 ± 3.76%) and rear-foot load distribution (p = 0.0006; p = 0.0006). Also the maximal peak pressure (S: 518.06 ± 111.50 g/cm2; A: 445.38 ± 88.47 g/cm2) and the mean pressure showed significant differences between groups. There were significant differences between sports in total surface and fore-/rear-foot and total left/right surfaces ratios.

Conclusions: Women practising sport differ from sedentary ones in the fore-/rear-foot pressure ratio. In addition, we detected plantar surface and fore-/rear-foot pressure ratio differences within the athletes group.