PEDOBAROGRAPH

The laboratory has a pedobarograph system which enables information to be collected about the pressures on the plantar (bottom) surface of the foot. As well as indicating where there are high pressure areas it is also shows the progression of the centre of pressure. This can be very useful as it can indicate whether a person is spending a large amount of time on one area of the foot and also whether how the centre of pressure is moving could be contributing to their problems. The system enables us to analyse the data in a number of different ways and from this it is possible to make recommendations about possible interventions.

Benefits:

High pressure areas on the foot are identified conventionally when an area of hard skin or an ulcer occurs. Using the pedobarograph it is possible to identify high pressure areas before any physical sign is shown. Also the information collected from the pedobarograph is dynamic and so gives an indication of what is occurring as a person walks rather than just a static picture. The information about the progression of the centre of pressure is also useful as it can be that skin damage is caused by a lower pressure acting at a point for a longer time or moving backwards and forwards over a point.

Appointment:

During a pedobarograph appointment the patient is asked to wear shorts (the appointment letter will ask them to bring these). The pedobarograph is mounted into a walkway and the patient is instructed to walk at self selected speed over the walkway. We ask the patient to walk as they normally would and to try to avoid targeting the pedobarograph. If the patient has insoles or some other form of walking aid it is a good idea for them to bring these to the appointment and we may assess using these as well. 

Once all the required pedobarograph data has been collected a clinical examination is performed by the physiotherapist.

The referral for a pedobarograph appointment may indicate that collection of other data would be useful. This would usually be video or video vector data and would be carried out at the time.