INVESTIGATION OF PLANTAR PRESSURE AND PLANTAR IMBALANCES IN THE STATIC PHASE OF KARATE DO ATHLETES

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the parameters offered by the baropodometric examination on a group of athletes practicing the martial art Karate Do (20 subjects, 16 girls and 4 boys, average age 13.55 ± 2.74, height 163 cm ± 8.47 , weight 54.50 kg ± 8.84, BMI (body index mass) of 20.46 ± 2.90 and seniority in sports activity of 5.27 years ± 2.74). The purpose of the research is to determine the changes related to the value of the plantar surfaces, the pressures for the dominant and non-dominant lower segments, the positioning of the pressure center in relation to the support polygon and the imbalances in the sole of the foot. The testing was performed using the FreeMed baropodometric platform and the FreeStep by Sensor Medica software, in the last week of February 2021, at the Research Center for Human Performance within the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, “Dunărea de Jos” University from Galați. Results: Placing the maximum pressure point / P.max in the forefoot area is an exception, only one case being reported with this distribution, the rest having P.max located at the rearfoot level. Comparison of the averages between the variables recorded for the left foot vs. the right foot highlights higher values of the dominant / right foot, but these differences are significant only for the values of the plantar pressure in the forefoot area and for the total load on the entire plantar surface / total load (p <.05). The comparison between the averages of the surfaces and the loads of each separate foot (for the forefoot and rearfoot areas) highlights major differences only for the values of the contact surfaces, the forefoot area being significantly larger than the rearfoot area (p <.05). Close average values with small and insignificant differences are reported for each foot between the forefoot and rearfoot areas when comparing the body pressure / load percent and weight ratio percent, indicating a balanced pressure distribution between the front and back area for each leg. The investigation was also useful by detecting the existing imbalances at the plantar level, for one or both legs, being also reported cases of hollow, flat and mixed foot. These plantar disturbances can negatively affect all the overlying / upper joints, but especially the body posture, thus being able to cause pain in the lumbar region, limiting the performance activity and causing even the withdrawal of the athletes. We recommend that after identifying the syndromes at the ankle joint, to implement personalized plantar supports, which should be introduced in sports shoes in order to balance the architecture of the foot sole. Keywords: karate do, plantar pressures, baropodometric analysis, load, rearfoot, forefoot, maximum pressure,