“Doctor, my feet hurt when I walk too much, and I’ve changed many pairs of shoes, but none of them work.”
Such complaints are common in orthopedics, rehabilitation or sports medicine clinics.
The foot is one of the most important load-bearing structures of the human body, carrying the weight of the entire body every day. If you experience heel pain, swelling of the forefoot, sore arches and other problems after walking or running for a long time, it is likely related to abnormal plantar pressure distribution.
In the past, the diagnosis of foot problems relied on the experience of doctors. Nowadays, more and more medical institutions have begun to use a “black technology” – plantar pressure analysis system, which is gradually becoming a new tool for foot pain diagnosis and intervention.
What is a plantar pressure analysis system?
In short, it is a system that can accurately detect how much pressure each part of a person’s foot bears during standing or walking. Through the built-in pressure sensor, the system can record the force of each area of the plantar in real time and present a dynamic distribution map.
It’s like “doing a CT scan” for your feet. It can not only tell you where it hurts, but also tell you “why it hurts.”
What problems can it detect?
Abnormal arches (flat feet/high arches)
The plantar pressure map can clearly show whether the arch area is “collapsed” or “elevated”, helping to determine structural abnormalities.
Foot eversion/inversion
If the center of gravity is always biased to the inside or outside when walking, it may cause discomfort in the knee or hip joints in the long run. The system will show the direction of the center of gravity through pressure offset.
Wrong walking posture
Some people have abnormal foot landing order when walking (for example, the forefoot lands first), and the pressure curve will show abnormal rhythm, indicating that the gait needs to be adjusted.
Different leg lengths lead to center of gravity deviation
Some people have a slight difference in leg length. The system can compare the force diagrams of both feet to infer the existing asymmetry problems.
What are its application scenarios?
Clinical diagnosis: Doctors use pressure maps to assist in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, hallux valgus and other problems.
Orthopedic intervention: Used to design personalized corrective insoles to provide customized support for different foot types.
Postoperative evaluation: Help patients evaluate the rehabilitation effect after surgery and adjust the direction of gait training.
Sports rehabilitation: Provide running posture analysis for athletes to reduce chronic injuries caused by concentrated pressure on the feet.
Is the detection process complicated?
Not at all! The detection is usually divided into static detection and dynamic detection:
Static detection: Stand on the pressure plate for a few seconds to complete the plantar force collection;
Dynamic detection: Walk through a pressure carpet or wear an insole with a built-in sensor, and the system will automatically record the force changes during the entire walking process.
The whole process is non-invasive, painless, and radiation-free, and a professional analysis report can be obtained in a few minutes.
Written at the end
The plantar pressure analysis system is gradually moving from “high-precision and cutting-edge” to clinical popularization, helping more and more patients find the root cause of long-term foot discomfort.
For chronic foot pain, abnormal gait or long-term unhealed foot problems, it may be a good idea to do a comprehensive plantar pressure test. Perhaps the answer is under your feet.
