DOES PLANTAR PRESSURE AND LOADING PATTERN VARY WITH JOINT HYPERMOBILITY IN YOUNG FEMALES

BACKGROUND Joint hypermobility is a connective tissue disorder that increases joint range of motion. Plantar pressure and foot loading patterns may change with joint hypermobility. We aimed to analyze static plantar pressure of young females with and without joint hypermobility. METHODS Joint laxity of 27 young females was assessed cross-sectionally using the Beighton and Horan Joint Mobility Index. Participants were divided into the hypermobility (4 to 9) and without hypermobility groups (0 to 3) according to their scores. Static plantar pressure and forces were recorded using a pedobarographic (TekScan MatScanTM, Boston, MA, USA) system. RESULTS Higher peak pressure and peak pressure gradients (p= 0.01 and p= 0.025, respectively) were observed in the non-dominant foot in the hypermobility group. According to the comparison dominant and non-dominant feet in each group, hypermobility group showed significantly higher peak pressure (p= 0.046), peak pressure gradient (p= 0.041) and total force (p= 0.028) in their non-dominant foot. CONCLUSIONS Plantar pressure and loading pattern varies in young females with joint hypermobility. Evaluation of plantar loading as an injury prevention tool in individuals with joint hypermobility syndrome can be suggested.