3-Dimensional Foot Geometry and Pressure Distribution Analysis of the Human Foot. Visualization and Analysis of two Independent Foot Quantities for Clinical Applications

The purpose of this research was to visualize three dimensional foot scan data simultaneously with pressure distribution information under the foot. Furthermore, simplified pressure distribution analysis software was developed. 382 school children were measured with a 3D - foot laser scanner and a pressure distribution platform during one-legged standing. A visualization program to combine foot geometry with plantar pressure distribution in a single graphical representation (PressoMorph 1.0) was developed using MATLAB. The two different data sets from the foot scanner and the pressure distribution device were imported into PressoMorph 1.0 and matched in orientation, position and size. A positioning of the virtual three-dimensional foot onto the pressure matrix image resulted in a visual combination of both data as a wire-frame image with colour coded pressure isobarographs. Program options include rotations of the image along the three axes and provide a cursor value readout possibility for a user friendly program interface. The combination of 3D foot geometry and plantar pressure distribution data in only a single graphical representation guarantees a fast and easy judgement of foot shape and mechanical foot characteristics in a clinical setting.