Comparison of peak pressure and time to peak pressure during normal walking between females with idiopathic chronic low back pain and healthy controls

Aims and The aim of this study was to compare peak pressure and time to peak pressure during normal walking between females with idiopathic chronic low back pain (LBP) and healthy controls.
10 females with chronic LBP and 11 healthy female participated in this study. LBP was measured using Quebec questionnaire. Plantar pressure was measured using emed platform during barefoot walking. After dividing foot into 10 parts, peak pressures and time to peak pressures were calculated. Repeated measure and MANOVA were used for statistical analysis and significance level was set at 0/05.
Findings: This study showed that peak pressure of LBP subjects were significantly greater than healthy subjects on right (p=0/001) and left (p=0/001) medial midfoot parts; and they were significantly smaller than healthy subjects on left lateral midfoot (p=0/03), right hallux (0/04) and left 3rd, 4th and 5th finger (p=0/003) parts. Also, LPB patients showed significantly increased time to peak pressure in the parts of medial (0=0/002) and lateral heel (p=0/003), medial (0=0/005) and lateral midfoot (0=0/01) in the right foot and in the meidal (0=0/002) and lateral heel (p=0/004), medial (0=0/002) and lateral midfoot (p=0/003), second metatarsal (0=0/002) and 3rd, 4th and 5th metatarsals (p=0/001) in the left foot.
plantar pressure is affected by LBP ; So the assessment of plantar pressure distribution and prescribing the appropriate insole should be considered in treatment planning and pain management of chronic LBP patients.