Gait analysis and dynamic foot pressure in the assessment of treated clubfoot.

Abstract

Gait analysis and dynamic foot pressure were used in a follow-up study of 42 children with idiopathic clubfeet. Mean age at follow-up was 9 years (range 4-15 years). Twenty-four of the 62 clubfeet were treated conservatively and 38 had at least one operative intervention. Gait analysis showed that the vertical and posterior ground forces were significantly lower from the clubfoot compared with the normal foot. Dynamic foot pressure demonstrated a significant shift of the center of pressure to the lateral side in the affected compared with the normal side. In bilateral clubfeet, a relationship between center of pressure and subjective complaints was observed.