| ObjectiveTo demonstrate the effectiveness of using plantar pressure test and gait analysis techniques at high altitude,and to survey and obtain data on plantar pressure among healthy young students who reside and migrate to high altitude.On the one hand,providing basic data for plantar pressure distribution testing under plateau environments provides reference baseline standards and research experience for subsequent related research;On the other hand,combined with relevant tests,through the comparative study of native and migrant healthy young students under the plateau environment,it provides a research basis for further cohort study in which further exploring whether there is a correlation between altitude adaptation and acclimatization and plantar pressure distribution.MethodsA cluster sampling was conducted on college students from the Medical College and the College of Art of Tibet University.Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,a total of 221 subjects were obtained(37male and 51 female native Tibetans,33 male and 39 female Han immigrants,and 33 male and 28 female Tibetan dance majors).Relevant data were obtained through questionnaires,anthropometry and plantar pressure test.SPSS 24.0 statistical software was used for data analysis.Quantitative data is presented as(mean ± SD)or M(QL-QU);Quantitative data comparison adopts t-test or non-parametric test;Correlation analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation,point biserial correlation,and linear regression analysis.P<0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference.Results(1)Among native healthy young Tibetan students,there are differences in the average pressure and contact area between the feet of male students who stand still(P<0.05);there are differences in impulse(T2-5,M4,M5,MH)of different regions during dynamic walking between the two feet(P<0.05);there is a difference in the average pressure between the feet of female students who stand still(P<0.05).During dynamic walking,there are differences in contact area(MH),peak force(MH),average pressure(T1,MF),and impulse(MF)of different regions between the two feet(P<0.05).There are gender differences in the peak pressure,average pressure,and contact area of students standing still(P<0.05);and there are gender differences in contact time,contact area,foot axis angle during dynamic walking(P<0.05).The distribution patterns of contact area,peak force,peak pressure,average pressure,and impulse in each region are basically consistent among each group.(2)Among healthy young immigrant Han students,there is a difference in the average pressure between the feet of male students with static standing(P<0.05).During dynamic walking,there are differences in foot axis angle,as well as the peak force(MF),peak pressure(M4),and average pressure(M4)of different regions between the two feet(P<0.05);There is a difference in the average pressure between the feet of female students with static standing(P<0.05).During dynamic walking,there are differences in foot axis angle,contact area(MH),peak force(MF)and average pressure(M2)between the two feet(P<0.05);There is a gender difference in the arch index of the feet of students with static standing(P<0.05);and there are gender differences in contact time,foot axis angle,bilateral single foot contact time,average single foot contact time,gait cycle during dynamic walking(P<0.05).The distribution patterns of contact area,peak force,peak pressure,average pressure,and impulse in each region are basically consistent among each group.(3)Among Tibetan dance majors,there is a difference in the contact area between the feet of male students during static standing(P<0.05).There are differences in impulse(MF,LH)of different regions during dynamic walking between the two feet(P<0.05);there is a difference in the contact area between the feet of female students when standing still(P<0.05).There are differences in the contact area(LH),peak force(LH),and impulse(LH)of different regions during dynamic walking between the two feet(P<0.05).There is a gender difference in the contact area when standing still(P<0.05).Meanwhile,there are differences in the contact time,contact area,foot axis angle,single foot contact time,average single foot contact time,gait cycle during dynamic walking(P<0.05).The distribution patterns of contact area,peak force,peak pressure,average pressure,and impulse in each region are basically consistent among each group.(4)Comparing healthy young native Tibetan and immigrant Han students,there is an ethnic difference of male in the contact area while standing still(P<0.05).During dynamic walking,there are ethnic differences of male in single foot contact time,average single foot contact time,gait cycle,as well as contact area(T1,M5,T2-5),peak force(T1,M2,T2-5),peak pressure(MF),and impulse(T1,T2-5,M2,M1,M3,M4,M5)among different regions(P<0.05).There are ethnic differences of female in the arch index,average pressure,and peak pressure when standing still(P<0.05).There are ethnic differences of female in contact area,foot axis angle,and contact area(T1,T2-5,M5,MH,M4,LH),peak force(T1,T2-5,M2),peak pressure(T1,M4,M1),average pressure(T1,M4,T2-5)and impulse(T1,T2-5,M2,M1,M5,MH)during dynamic walking(P<0.05).The distribution patterns of contact area,peak force,peak pressure,average pressure,and impulse in each region are not completely consistent among each group.(5)Comparing healthy young native Tibetan dance and non-dance majors,there are differences of male in the average pressure,contact area and arch index while standing still(P<0.05).There are differences of male in contact time,contact area,peak pressure,double foot contact time,single foot contact time,average single foot contact time,as well as contact area(M1,M2,MF,M3,M4),peak force(MF),peak pressure(MF,LH),average pressure(MF),and impulse(MF,M5,MH)among different regions during dynamic walking(P<0.05).There is a difference of female in arch index when standing still(P<0.05).There are differences of female in contact time,contact area,gait cycle,as well as contact area(M2,M3,MF,MH,LH,M1,T2-5),peak force(M2,MF,M3,T2-5,M4,M5),peak pressure(MF,M5,M2,M3,M4,MH),average pressure(M4,MF,M2,M3,M5),and impulse(M2,MF,M3,M4)in various areas during dynamic walking(P<0.05).The distribution patterns of contact area,peak force,peak pressure,average pressure,and impulse in each region are not completely consistent among each group.(6)The plantar pressure indicators are associated with gender,ethnicity,height,weight,BMI and foot length.After adjusting for relevant factors mentioned above,the plantar pressure indicators remained highly correlated with ethnicity(P<0.05).ConclusionThe distribution pattern of plantar pressure among healthy young students residing at high altitude is basically consistent with that of those migrant Han students,with only some test indicators showing differences between genders and between left and right feet.The distribution pattern of plantar pressure among native and migrant students,as well as dance and non-dance majors is inconsistent;furthermore,there are differences in multiple indicators of static and dynamic testing.In addition,gender,ethnicity,height,weight,and foot length affect the distribution characteristics of plantar pressure.The results of the present study can provide basic data for constructing a gait database for high altitude populations,and provide reference and research experience for the wider application of plantar pressure testing in various fields at high-altitude. |
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