Affiliations: [a] College of Education and Therapy, Kazimiera Milanowska, Poznań, Poland | [b] Faculty of Ethnology and Educational Science, University of Silesia, Cieszyn, Poland | [c] Department of Biomechatronics, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Zabrze, Poland | [d] Department of Kinesiotherapy and Special Methods of Physiotherapy, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland | [e] Department of Informatics and Medical Devices, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Zabrze, Poland
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Robert Michnik, Department of Biomechatronics, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Roosevelta 40, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland. Tel.: +48 322777453; Fax: +48 322777430; E-mail: robert.michnik@polsl.pl.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Assessment of the foot arch is an important element of posture examination. In clinical practice, different methods are used. Reliability and repeatability of the techniques raises many doubts. OBJECTIVE: Development and verification of our own, automated diagnostic algorithm for evaluation of the longitudinal arch of the foot with the use of the Zebris FDM-S dynamometric platform. METHODS: This paper presents selected footprints assessment methods and Zebris dynamometric platform to assess the longitudinal arch of the foot. RESULTS: The results were compared to standard plantography examination. The outcomes show high correlation of the investigated parameters methods used. The ambiguity of classification criteria of foot arch was observed. CONCLUSIONS: 1/Examination confirmed strong linear correlation between the Arch Index results obtained during examinations on a stabilometric platform and plantography examination. 2/The proposed algorithm for AI evaluation using the Zebris FDM-S dynamometric platform enables simultaneous analysis of stabilometric and pedobarometric variables as well classifying the type of disorder arch longitudinal arch of the foot. 3/Qualitative analysis of the arch, based on plantography results and the Arch Index, shows inconsistency in results obtained with different methods. 4/The obtained results show further necessity to conduct more studies to develop methods of standardization of foot arch assessment.
