Pressure thresholds of the XXXX foot: measurement reliability and effects of stimulus characteristics.

@entity1 @entity3445 @entity158 @entity551 @entity130
Information related to reliable values of discomfort thresholds can help to improve the designs of various products. This study aimed to investigate the measurement reliabilities associated with pressure thresholds, while determining the effects of stimulus characteristics (stimulus area, indentation speed) of the @entity1 foot. An indentation apparatus was used with four sizes of indentation probes and three indentation speeds. In total, 13 locations on the right foot of 10 male and 10 female @entity1 were tested to determine the @entity551 ( @entity551 ) and pressure @entity158 thresholds ( @entity3445 ). Results show that the tests had very good measurement reliability with intra-class correlations (ICC) greater than 0.8 for the @entity3445 measurements and acceptable reliability (most ICC  >  0.75, with a few between 0.5 and 0.75) for the @entity551 measurements, demonstrating that @entity1 are capable of judging their @entity158 and discomfort thresholds. Pressure sensitivity differs across locations of the foot, with the medial plantar arch of the foot being the most sensitive, followed by the dorsal surface of the foot. The heel area was the least sensitive. @entity3445 and @entity551 are dependent on the stimulus characteristics of the area and the speed of indentation. A smaller area has a higher @entity3445 and @entity551 , indicating significant effects of spatial summation. The increase of @entity551 and @entity3445 at higher speeds may be partially explained by the increase in stiffness because foot tissue exhibits viscoelastic properties. The findings can have a significant impact on the design of footwear and other accessories for improved foot health and comfort. Statement of Relevance: This study investigated the threshold measurement reliability while determining the pressure sensitivity on the surface of the foot with varying stimulus characteristics. The findings may be very useful in the design of footwear and other accessories for improved comfort and reduced @entity130 .
