Relationship between in-shoe pressure measurements and fear of falling among noncommunity- dwelling elderly: a pilot study

Abstract

Objectives:
To investigate the relationship between fear of falling indicators and pedobarographic variables among non-communitydwelling elderly.

Methods:
Twenty-seven volunteers were recruited and assigned to three groups according to their level of fear of falling estimated using the Short FES-I score. The in-shoe foot pressure data were collected while walking 10 meters. The relative peak and mean force in different foot regions, functional gait tasks feature, and center of pressure displacement were measured. A Kruskal- Wallis test was performed to assess the differences between groups.

Results:
The anterior-posterior displacement of pressure center was significantly different across the groups during weight acceptance and single limb advancement phases. The different pressure regions showed significant differences in relative mean (p=0.006) and peak forces (p=0.004) in hindfoot. The relative peak force was different for a hallux (p=0.042), a first metatarsal head (p=0.026), and a hindfoot (p=0.038).

Conclusions:
In-shoe pressure measurement while walking may be important when assessing the risk and the fear of falling among elderly.