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.