Abstract
The sole of the foot acts as the interface between the ground and the body and is subjected to changing patterns of stress. These stresses will be accompanied by temporary or permanent strains within the tissues and may therefore be linked with those foot conditions which involve some degree of structural failure. One method of investigating the stresses is to measure the pressure distribution at the sole; an apparently simple task that continues to test scientific ingenuity and technological progress. Recent attempts to quantify shear stresses show that this extra goal may be even more challenging.
Previous reviews describe the technology but not the relationship between the sensor characteristics and the associated data. The apparent lack of understanding of this relationship is reflected in some published reports and has meant that clinical findings can be misinterpreted. This report reviews those sensor characteristics that have been recorded in the literature. It also shows how the sensor design influences the data and explains why a realistic appreciation of clinical findings requires a preliminary understanding of the chosen sensor.
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