The needs for obtaining quantitative plantar force information range from basic research into foot function to assisting patients in the use of prosthetic devices. This project reviews present force monitoring techniques, describes the evaluation of a Force Sensing Resistor for monitoring plantar force and proposes a low power portable plantar force monitoring system utilizing an array of force sensing resistors. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-11Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:58:09Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 azevedo_lap_dr_guara.pdf: 1262469 bytes, checksum: 16f7a071d0d4fefa5c5933ea7ec4d6df (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O presente estudo teve por objetivo realizar um levantamento do padrão do pé em crianças no início da segunda infância. A metodologia utilizou duas plataformas de força para detecção da distribuição das pressões plantares e da impressão plantar para mensurar o arco longitudinal medial, por conseguinte, classificar os tipos de pés. Foram comparadas as forças plantares da porção medial, lateral e as forças plantares da região anterior e posterior dos pés. Os pés, após serem classificados, foram comparados com as médias das forças plantares de cada sensor. Estes valores médios, foram comparados através do teste t de Student, teste de ANOVA e estimadas as correlações através do Coeficiente de Pearson com significância de alfa 5%. Participaram do estudo 57 escolares da primeira série do ensino fundamental com idade média de 7 anos e 6 meses, sem qualquer queixa ou indício de patologia ortopédica e/ou neurológica. A aquisição da atividade baropodométrica, foi coletada três vezes seguidas para cada sensor, e realizada na posição ortostática como a impressão plantar. As pressões plantares foram significativamente maiores da região medial do pé esquerdo e em ambos os retropés. A amostra apresentou prevalência de pés planos. Foi possível identificar uma boa correlação entre as forças plantares e o peso das crianças e uma boa correlação entre o total das áreas da impressão plantar com o peso da criança. / The aim of this study was to obtain a survey on foot pattern of children up to 10 years old of. The method utilized two pressure platform to detect the distribution of plantar pressures and of plantar prints to measure the medial and longitudinal foot arch and to classify the foot types. The plantar pressures were compared according to medial and lateral side of foot the anterior and posterior regions of the foot were also studied. The feet were classified and were compared the mean pressure plantar of each platform sensor. These mean values were analysed by Student t test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test and the correlations were performed by the Pearson coeficient. The significance level adopted was alpha = 5%. This study was developed with students of Alcina Soares Fundamental Level School, located in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo State. Fitfy seven students were enrolled in this study. The average age of the participants age was 7,5 years old, they did not present any orthopedical or neurological symptom. The baropodometric activity records were collected with three times repetition to each sensor and the prodecure was performed in orthostatic position. The same procedure was adopted to obtain the plantar print. The plantar pressures were higher in the posterior region of the foot and in the medial region of the feet left. The plantar pressures were higher in the flat foot in comparison to the normal foot. It was possible to identify a good correlation between total foot surface and child weight; also, the plantar footprint had a good correlation with the child weight. So, the procedure performed with mechanical sensor was capable to define the pattern of pressure plantar in students.

Orientador: Luiz Fernando Costa Nascimento / Banca: Mauro Pedro Peres / Banca: Luis Carlos Ribeiro Lara / Resumo: O presente estudo teve por objetivo realizar um levantamento do padrão do pé em crianças no início da segunda infância. A metodologia utilizou duas plataformas de força para detecção da distribuição das pressões plantares e da impressão plantar para mensurar o arco longitudinal medial, por conseguinte, classificar os tipos de pés. Foram comparadas as forças plantares da porção medial, lateral e as forças plantares da região anterior e posterior dos pés. Os pés, após serem classificados, foram comparados com as médias das forças plantares de cada sensor. Estes valores médios, foram comparados através do teste t de Student, teste de ANOVA e estimadas as correlações através do Coeficiente de Pearson com significância de alfa 5%. Participaram do estudo 57 escolares da primeira série do ensino fundamental com idade média de 7 anos e 6 meses, sem qualquer queixa ou indício de patologia ortopédica e/ou neurológica. A aquisição da atividade baropodométrica, foi coletada três vezes seguidas para cada sensor, e realizada na posição ortostática como a impressão plantar. As pressões plantares foram significativamente maiores da região medial do pé esquerdo e em ambos os retropés. A amostra apresentou prevalência de pés planos. Foi possível identificar uma boa correlação entre as forças plantares e o peso das crianças e uma boa correlação entre o total das áreas da impressão plantar com o peso da criança. / Abstract: The aim of this study was to obtain a survey on foot pattern of children up to 10 years old of. The method utilized two pressure platform to detect the distribution of plantar pressures and of plantar prints to measure the medial and longitudinal foot arch and to classify the foot types. The plantar pressures were compared according to medial and lateral side of foot the anterior and posterior regions of the foot were also studied. The feet were classified and were compared the mean pressure plantar of each platform sensor. These mean values were analysed by Student t test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test and the correlations were performed by the Pearson coeficient. The significance level adopted was alpha = 5%. This study was developed with students of “Alcina Soares” Fundamental Level School, located in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo State. Fitfy seven students were enrolled in this study. The average age of the participants age was 7,5 years old, they did not present any orthopedical or neurological symptom. The baropodometric activity records were collected with three times repetition to each sensor and the prodecure was performed in orthostatic position. The same procedure was adopted to obtain the plantar print. The plantar pressures were higher in the posterior region of the foot and in the medial region of the feet left. The plantar pressures were higher in the flat foot in comparison to the normal foot. It was possible to identify a good correlation between total foot surface and child weight; also, the plantar footprint had a good correlation with the child weight. So, the procedure performed with mechanical sensor was capable to define the pattern of pressure plantar in students. / Mestre