Author(s): PETRIGNA, L., AMATO, A., MUSUMECI, G., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF CATANIA, Country: ITALY, Abstract-ID: 908

INTRODUCTION:
Plantar pressure distribution has a key influence on postural stability, but its association with postural stability has only been studied in a single-task condition, a context far from everyday reality. Dual-task (DT) is the simultaneous performance of two tasks, usually, one postural and a second motor or cognitive one. DT is a challenging condition, strongly related to real-life situations. The study aims to understand if a correlation exists between plantar distribution and postural stability in single and DT conditions.
METHODS:
A total of 56 participants were recruited, 19 of whom were females. The mean ± standard deviation age of them was 23.8 ± 2.2 years, their height was 174.2 ± 10.2 cm, and their weight was 74.3 ± 14.3 kg. Participants were healthy with no neuromuscular or cognitive disorders. They were evaluated using a stabilimeter platform in open eye (OE) single and dual task (51-second duration), and they also did a baropodometric evaluation. The Shapiro-Wilk test was adopted to evaluate normality. Because the data were not normally distributed, the Spearman test was adopted to study the correlation between baropodometric data. The parameters load distribution right (r) and left (l) foot, forefoot (f) and hindfoot (h), and stabilometric data (area, length, and velocity) were considered. Delta data were adopted for the load right vs left foot (∆rl).
RESULTS:
Data were not significantly different (p> 0.05). A negative correlation was detected between area OE and ∆rl (r=-0.187), h (r=-0.214), and a positive correlation with f (r=0.224). A positive correlation was detected between length OE and ∆rl (r=0.025), h (r=0.198), and a negative correlation with f (r=-0.183). Velocity OE presented a positive correlation with ∆rl (r=0.020), h (r=0.193), and a negative correlation with f (r=-0.178). A negative correlation was detected between area DT with ∆rl (r=-0.092), h (r=-0.113), and a positive correlation with f (r=0.112). A positive correlation was detected between length DT with ∆rl (r=0.126), h (r=0.176), and a negative correlation with f (r=-0.182). Velocity DT presented a positive correlation with ∆rl (r=0.121), h (r=0.177), and a negative correlation with f (r=-0.183).
CONCLUSION:
No statistical differences were detected between plantar distribution and postural stability. Both single and DT presented a similar trend. It seems that a higher load on a foot improves postural control with a lower area. This condition requires more and faster adaptations at the foot level, resulting in a higher speed and perimeter. On the other side, a higher load on the forefoot is correlated with a lower velocity and length, but the area increases. This trend could be explained by a better proprioceptive control of the feet but with a worse postural control, probably due to an incorrect distribution of the load on the floor. It is to note that the study of postural control results is more precise if both, baropodometry and postural stability, are considered.