Comparison of plantar pressure distribution in patients with hallux valgus and healthy matched controls

Background: Detailed information regarding differences in plantar pressure distribution between hallux valgus and healthy feet is unavailable. The purposes of the present study were to clarify the characteristics of the plantar pressure distribution in patients with hallux valgus compared with healthy matched controls and to determine whether hallux valgus leads to dysfunction of the great toe during walking. Methods: The study consisted of 25 patients with symptomatic moderate-to-severe hallux valgus (HV group) and 13 healthy matched volunteers (C group) without hallux valgus. All patients and volunteers were women. The HV and C groups did not differ significantly in age, height, weight, and body mass index. Plantar pressure during walking was measured using F-scan. The plantar aspect of the foot was divided into eight regions. The peak pressure (Peak-P), maximum force (Max-F), contact time (Con-T), contact area (Con-A), and force time integral (FTI) were measured in each region. Results: The Peak-P of the great toe did not differ significantly between the HV and C groups. However, all other parameters: Max-F, Con-T, Con-A, and FTI of the great toe in the HV group were significantly lower than in the C group. In the central forefoot, the Peak-P and Max-F in the HV group were significantly higher than in the C group. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that a moderate-to-severe hallux valgus deformity leads to dysfunction of the great toe during walking and may increase mechanical loading on the central forefoot. (C) 2017 The Japanese Orthopaedic Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.