An Insole Pressure Measurement System: Repeatability of Postural Data

This study analyzed the ability of an in-shoe plantar pressure measurement system to provide repeatable measurements of postural sway data for both healthy and clinical patients. Each participant's in-shoe pressure data were recorded for three trials during each test session during quiet stance. Healthy individuals (n=9) participated on three consecutive days while clinical participants (n=5) were tested on one day. Nine response variables were measured to assess their postural stability. Intra-subject measures were evaluated using the Kerlinger reliability procedure. Values provided directly by the Parotec System® for a single day of testing yielded the following average coefficients: r = 0.95 (left), r = 0.97 (right) with mean coefficient values from the three day tests of: r = 0.98 (left), r = 0.98 (right). Variables calculated from raw data on a single day produced mean coefficients of: r = 0.77 (left), r = 0.76 (right) and over three days of: r = 0.65 (left), r =0.66 (right). The ability to record highly reproducible data of postural sway parameters should assist clinicians to treat patients more confidently for balance deficiencies.