Plantar Foot Pressure Distribution of Middle-Aged Obese Women while Walking Over Obstacles of Different Heights

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of degree of obesity on the plantar pressure when middle-aged women walked over an obstacle. [Subjects] The subjects of this study were twenty-seven middle-aged female adults. The subjects were divided into a normal group (n=5), an overweight group (n=8), a lightobesity group(n=7), middleobesity group (n=7). The subjects were asked to step on a foot scanner immediately before crossing over an obstracle (height 0 cm, 10 cm, or 20 cm) while walking on a road 10 m course that was and 1 m wide at a speed of 80 m/min. The mean pressure value for each obstacle height was calculated from three trials. The pressure measurement was performed by dividing the sole into seven regions. [Result] Under the 0 cm height condition, the pressures at the hallux and heel were significantly greater in the overweight group, the lightobesity group, and moderateobesity group than in the normal group. Under the 10 cm height condition, the pressure at the hallux, the first metatarsal, and the heel in the moderateobesity group was significantly different from that in the normal group, overweight group, and the lightobesity group. Under the 20 cm height condition, there were no significant difference among any of the groups in any region. [Conclusion] An increase in weight in normal middle-aged women may result in an increase plantar pressure at certain regions when walking over obstructions that were 10 cm or higher, and may cause abnormal gait by inducing a motor abnormality at the ankle joint.