Have you ever noticed that you always press on one side when you walk? Or after standing for a long time, you always feel that one leg is more strenuous? In fact, these are probably related to your body tilt. Now, through a set of “magical” equipment-plantar pressure distribution system, you can easily “see” the asymmetry of your body and even find potential problems in advance.
So, how does plantar pressure reflect body tilt? How should we deal with it correctly? Let’s talk about this technological topic today.
1. What is plantar pressure distribution?
Simply put, plantar pressure distribution is the pressure on each area when a person’s feet are in contact with the ground during standing or walking. It uses a highly sensitive pressure sensing pad for real-time detection, and then generates a colorful map to show the specific landing point of your body’s center of gravity.
Red represents high-pressure areas, and blue represents low-pressure areas, which clearly show whether the force on the foot is balanced or not.
2. Body tilt, “talking” from the soles of the feet
We often say “stand like a pine, walk like the wind”, which is actually a standard neutral posture. If a person stands with a skewed posture, such as pelvic tilt, scoliosis, or unilateral muscle tension, the body’s center of gravity will shift to one side, and this shift will first be reflected in the force on the sole of the foot.
The plantar pressure system is like a “mirror” that does not lie.
If the pressure on the left foot is significantly higher than that on the right foot, it may indicate that the body’s center of gravity is biased to the left;
If there is almost no pressure on the heel, but too much pressure on the forefoot, there may be a pelvic tilt or lumbar spine problem;
If the pressure on the left and right arches is severely asymmetrical, it may even be a posture problem caused by unequal length of the lower limbs and hip rotation.
These seemingly minor asymmetries may cause a series of chronic problems such as stiff shoulders and necks, lumbar disc herniation, and knee strain over time.
3. How does the plantar pressure system help us?
The first step in posture screening
Through a few seconds of static standing or dynamic gait scanning, the system will generate a set of detailed pressure maps and center of gravity trajectory maps to help doctors determine whether there is unbalanced force, so as to conduct a preliminary posture screening.
Accurately assess rehabilitation progress
For patients undergoing postoperative rehabilitation or scoliosis or pelvic rotation correction, plantar pressure maps can be used as an objective basis to record changes after each treatment and assess whether the rehabilitation effect is up to standard.
Personalized training program development
Professional rehabilitation therapists will design targeted training programs for patients based on pressure distribution, combined with muscle and joint mobility assessment, such as core strength training, balance training, gait adjustment, etc.
4. What can we do in daily life?
Of course, in addition to relying on instrument evaluation, we can also pay attention to some small details in daily life:
Take photos frequently to record standing and sitting postures, and whether there is a height difference between the left and right shoulders;
Pay attention to whether the soles of your shoes are always more worn on one side when you walk;
Perform some simple balance exercises, such as single-leg standing training, to improve body stability.
