Assessments based on plantar pressure: Emphasis on its use in symptom-free postmenopausal women

Plantar pressure can contribute to the systematic measurement, description, and assessment of quantities that characterize human locomotion and its analysis may provide additional insight into the etiology of pain and lower extremities complaints allowing for injury prevention [1, 2]. Plantar pressure measurements during walking or other activities can demonstrate the pathomechanics of the abnormal foot and yield objective measures for outcomes evaluation or to track disease progression [3]. In order to reduce the risk of tissue damage and to prevent diabetic foot ulceration in the neuropathic foot, the reduction of plantar pressure shall be a goal [4]. In looking forward to avoid or minimize foot pain discomfort in rheumatoid arthritis, the reduction of plantar pressure is also a therapeutic goal [5]. Walking represents an ideal physical activity to initiate a change in the behavior, which is needed to acquire health benefits, and which is accessible to all the community segments. It can be incorporated in the daily routine as a way of displacement in the surroundings of home, a way of exercise, to move from a place to another or for simple pleasure. Therefore, considering that the interest in physical fitness continues to grow in postmenopausal women, as a result of promoting health and wellness, the understanding of the dynamic characteristics of the symptom-free foot during the human locomotion provides the necessary basis for objective evaluation of movement dysfunction [6]. This review includes relevant information for the assessment of the human locomotion based on plantar pressure in symptom-free postmenopausal women. Our aim is to provide a selected review of information relevant to the assessment of the human locomotion based on plantar pressure, indicating several methodological concerns that must be taken into consideration, in order to achieve valid, reliable and accurate data. With this paper, we hope to contribute to the improvement of gait analysis as an effective tool in the clinical decision, by making a process for improving treatment outcome in individuals.