A COMPARISON OF THE DYNAMIC PEDOBAROGRAPH AND EMED SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING DYNAMIC FOOT PRESSURES

The purpose of this study was to compare the peak pressure and peak fo rce values obtained from two pressure assessment systems, the Dynamic Pedobarograph and the EMED SF. Twenty-one individuals with a mean age of 31.6 years walked barefoot over both systems using a two-step data collection protocol. Peak plantar pressures and peak vertical force va lues were measured under the heel, central forefoot, hallux, and entir e foot for both systems. The results of this study demonstrated that t he EMED SF system produced larger peak pressures under the central for efoot and hallux. The Pedobarograph, on the other hand, produced great er pressures under the heel and entire foot. With respect to peak vert ical forces, the Pedobarograph showed significantly greater values und er the heel and central forefoot compared with the EMED SF, but were s ignificantly lower under the hallux and entire foot.