Azalmiş plantar duyu ve kas zayifliğinin plantar basinç üzerine etkisi

Purpose: To determine the isolated contribution of reduced plantar sensation and of muscle weakness by simulating them on healthy subjects was aimed. Material and Methods: The study group consisted of 18 subjects (20 - 44 years old). Subjects walked in 4 different conditions (condition 1 was normal condition walking in normal gait pattern, condition 2 was reduced muscle strength walking by wearing waistcoat contains 40% of subject?s body weight, condition 3 was reduced plantar sensation walking after 12 minutes ice immersion approach and condition 4 was combination of conditions 2 and 3) with their preferred walking speed. Plantar surface of the foot divided into ten different areas (two areas for hindfoot, two areas for midfoot, three areas for MTHs (1, 2, 3-4-5) and three areas for toes (1, 2, 3-4-5). Results: There was significant main effect of all areas, of the waistcoat condition and of iced condition (F=66.11, F=57.27, F=14.39 prospectively). There was insignificant main effect of combined condition. There were significant interaction effects between the areas and the waistcoat condition (F=5.71) and between areas and the iced condition (F=7.28). Peak pressure on areas 5, 6 and 7 were higher than other areas under iced condition. Peak pressure on areas 3 and 6 were higher than other areas under waistcoat condition. Conclusion: Reduced plantar sensation had more effect on plantar pressure than muscle weakness whereas both of them had no effect on healthy subjects. This result may project to diabetic patients with reduced plantar sensation and desensitization training should be considered to manage that problem