Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Physiological, pathomechanical and functional parameter of human body can be obtained by testing and analyzing forefoot plantar pressure, which can provide a reference for studying the current situation of distribution and gait features of different populations.   
METHODS: Chinese Journal Full-text Database was searched by computer using key words of “forefoot plantar pressure, peak value, impulse” in Chinese for papers published from January 1995 to October 2010. Documents regarding features of forefoot plantar pressure in different populations were included, repetitive studies or Meta analysis was excluded. Totally 20 literatures were discussed for forefoot plantar pressure in different populations.
RESULTS: There were great variations among different populations in forefoot plantar pressure and gait features. The maximum peak plantar pressure, heel and fore-leg pressures were gradually decreased with age increasing, however, the instep pressure were increased. The forefoot plantar pressure of elderly people was obviously lower than that of the young people.
CONCLUSION: Forefoot plantar pressure test system has been widely used in medical science, tissue-engineered biomechanics of sports, and Ergonomics. But the research outcomes are diversified due to lack of united evaluation criterion, which needs further solution.