Influence of Foot Morphology on the Center of Pressure Pattern in Patients with Down Syndrome

Cristina Ferrario, Claudia Condoluci (), Marco Tarabini, Carlotta Maria Manzia, Gabriella Di Girolamo, Massimiliano Pau and Manuela Galli
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Cristina Ferrario: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Claudia Condoluci: IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Via della Pisana 235, 00163 Rome, Italy
Marco Tarabini: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Carlotta Maria Manzia: IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Via della Pisana 235, 00163 Rome, Italy
Gabriella Di Girolamo: IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Via della Pisana 235, 00163 Rome, Italy
Massimiliano Pau: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Manuela Galli: Department of Electronics, Information of Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Background: The primary aim of this study was to assess how different conformations of the foot in individuals with Down syndrome affected the CoP during walking, and the secondary aim was to evaluate the effect of an excess of mass in young adults and children with Down syndrome and flat foot. The greater investigation of these aspects will allow for more targeted rehabilitation treatments to improve a patient’s quality of life. Methods: The tests were carried out on 217 subjects with Down syndrome, 65 children and 152 young adults, and on 30 healthy individuals, 19 children and 11 young adults. All subjects underwent gait analysis, and the group with Down syndrome was also assessed with baropodometric tests to evaluate foot morphology. Results: The statistical analysis showed that within both the young adult and child groups, the CoP pattern in the anterior–posterior direction reflected a difficulty in proceeding in the walking direction compensated by a medio–lateral swing. The gait of children with Down syndrome was more impaired than that of young adults. In both young adults and children, a higher severity of impairment was found in overweight and obese female individuals. Conclusions: These results suggest that the sensory deficits and the development of hypotonic muscles and lax ligaments of the syndrome lead to morphological alterations of the foot that, combined with the physical characteristics of short stature and obesity, negatively impact the CoP pattern of people with Down syndrome during walking.

Keywords: down syndrome; flat foot; postural balance; gait disorders (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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