Biomechanical foot analysis in case of four typologies: normal foot, pes cavus, pes planus and hallux valgus

As each person is different in terms of conformation of the foot and temporal and spatial peculiarities of the individual gait pattern, an extended biomechanical analysis was performed for four categories of foot identified by the authors in a previous research study, namely normal, pes cavus (high arched), pes planus (flat) and hallux-valgus foot, in the case of young people aged 20-30 years. A representative case study was selected and the plantar pressures obtained in dynamics were analysed, following the next sequence: framing the subject in the appropriate category, simultaneous visualisation of the footprint for the left and right foot, impulse analysis, recording the variation of plantar pressures and the forces exerted on the foot as a function of time, calculating the percentage values of balance on the rear-foot, heel and medial areas, positioning of the foot axis according to the direction of movement, identification of individual characteristics of walking phases and their temporal / spatial characterisation parameters, highlighting the hysteresis for heel and rear-foot areas, recommendations for the application of orthotic devices. These results are significant in the modelling and design of the bottom shoe assembly, thus proposing solutions for balancing the pressures on the plantar surface by choosing the appropriate dimensional and shape characteristics of the components of this assembly.