In-shoe models are required to extend the clinical application of current multisegment kinetic models of the bare foot to study the effect of foot orthoses. Work to date has only addressed marker placement for reliable kinematic analyses. The purpose of this study is to address the difficulties of recording contact forces with available sensors. Ten participants walked 5 times wearing two different types of footwear by stepping on a pressure platform (ground contact forces) while wearing in-shoe pressure sensors (foot sole contact forces). Pressure data were segmented by considering contact cells’ anteroposterior location, and were used to compute 3D moments at foot joints. The mean values and 95% confidence intervals were plotted for each device per shoe condition. The peak values and times of forces and moments were computed per participant and trial under each condition, and were compared using mixed-effect tests. Test–retest reliability was analyzed by means of intraclass correlation coefficients. The curve profiles from both devices were similar, with higher joint moments for the instrumented insoles at the metatarsophalangeal joint (~26%), which were lower at the ankle (~8%) and midtarsal (~15%) joints, although the differences were nonsignificant. Not considering frictional forces resulted in ~20% lower peaks at the ankle moments compared to previous studies, which employed force plates. The device affected both shoe conditions in the same way, which suggests the interchangeability of measuring joint moments with one or the other device. This hypothesis was reinforced by the intraclass correlation coefficients, which were higher for the peak values, although only moderate-to-good. In short, both considered alternatives have drawbacks. Only the instrumented in-soles provided direct information about foot contact forces, but it was incomplete (evidenced by the difference in ankle moments between devices). However, recording ground reaction forces offers the advantage of enabling the consideration of contact friction forces (using force plates in series, or combining a pressure platform and a force plate to estimate friction forces and torque), which are less invasive than instrumented insoles (which may affect subjects’ gait).

Forefoot Varus is characterized by inversion of the metatarsal heads relative to the calcaneal bisector. It is present in 83.67 % of cases and contributes to overpronation and related foot/knee/hip pathologies. Despite multiple assessment methods, their reliability remains unclear. This systematic review evaluates the most reliable measurement technique. This systematic review and meta-analysis selected studies from several databases: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PEDro. The search strategies included keywords such as "forefoot", "varus forefoot", "supinatus forefoot", "varus alignment of the foot-ankle complex" or "shank-forefoot" and their combinations were used. Studies published in the English, French, and Spanish language were included until July 4th, 2024. After identifying the articles, the methodological quality was assessed using the GRRAS checklist. The reported results were intra-class correlation coefficient, influence on gait, biomechanical factors, and pathologies. This meta-analysis of 13 studies (n = 1238) found excellent intra-observer reliability for forefoot varus measurements (pooled ICC = 0.92, 95 %CI 0.89-0.94), with significant inter-observer differences (Q = 38.7, p < 0.001): goniometry showed ICCs of 0.56-0.68 (isolated forefoot or JIG shank-forefoot alignment goniometer) versus 0.81-0.91 (shank-forefoot alignment), while photogrammetry maintained consistently higher reliability (ICCs 0.90-0.93). Photogrammetry and goniometry demonstrated moderate correlation between methods (r = 0.71, 95 %CI 0.63-0.78) across predominantly healthy populations studies (76.9 %, mean age 31.5 ± 15.2 years). Photogrammetric and shank-forefoot alignment methods demonstrate excellent reliability (ICC >0.90) for forefoot varus assessment, while traditional goniometry shows inconsistent results. Standardized protocols are recommended to ensure cross-study comparability.

Background: Walking cadence is commonly adjusted in sport and rehabilitation, yet its effects on spatiotemporal gait parameters and regional plantar pressure distribution under controlled speed conditions remain incompletely characterized. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether imposed cadence increases at a constant walking speed would (i) systematically reduce temporal gait parameters while preserving inter-limb symmetry and (ii) be associated with region-specific increases in forefoot plantar loading, representing the primary novel contribution of this work. Methods: Fifty-two adults walked at three imposed cadences (110, 120, 130 steps·min⁻¹) while maintaining a fixed treadmill speed of 1.39 m·s⁻¹ via auditory biofeedback. Spatiotemporal parameters were recorded with an OptoGait system, and plantar pressure distribution was measured using in-shoe pressure insoles. Normally distributed variables were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, whereas plantar pressure metrics were assessed using the Friedman test, followed by Wilcoxon signed-rank post-hoc comparisons with false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Associations between temporal parameters and plantar loading metrics (peak pressure, pressure–time integral) were examined using Spearman’s rank correlation with FDR correction (α = 0.05). Results: Increasing cadence produced progressive reductions in gait cycle duration (~8–10%), contact time (~7–8%), and step time (all p < 0.01), while inter-limb symmetry indices remained below 2% across conditions. Peak plantar pressure increased significantly in several forefoot regions with increasing cadence (all p_FDR < 0.05), whereas changes in the first ray were less consistent across conditions. Regional forefoot pressure–time integral also increased modestly with higher cadence (p_FDR < 0.01). Spearman’s correlations revealed moderate negative associations between temporal gait parameters and global plantar loading metrics (ρ = −0.38 to −0.46, all p_FDR < 0.05). Conclusions: At a constant walking speed, increasing cadence systematically shortens temporal gait components and is associated with small but consistent region-specific increases in forefoot plantar loading. These findings highlight cadence as a key temporal constraint shaping plantar loading patterns during steady-state walking and support the existence of concurrent temporal–mechanical adaptations.

Objective: The objective of this paper is to present the alternative of novel compliant flooring (NCF) derived from a multidisciplinary evaluation of a pilot building in Barcelona (Spain). This approach aims to consider both the objective and subjective factors considered by the entire care community during implementation. Theoretical Framework: In conventional residential buildings dedicated to the long-term care of the elderly, stiff, shiny and slippery floors often predominate as a feature of the flooring heritage of these buildings. Today's building standards call for floors that are less slippery and with greater capacity to absorb the shock of the human body against the floor in the event of a fall. Given the usual constraints of cost and duration of refurbishment building works, the alternative chosen is often to overlay the current flooring with a resilient material with novel compliant flooring (NCF) properties. This decision, usually made by the technical building team, is relevant to the whole care community and should be shared with both care and maintenance staff and elderly residents. Method: The mixed methodological approach combines document and clinic analysis from architectural and podiatric experts respectively, surveys, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with stakeholders: residents, care professionals and technicians. Results and Discussion: The results indicate that the necessary consensus among the various groups surveyed requires the installation of flooring that offers a balance between appearance, maintenance, movement, and safety, but without reaching an optimal value in any of these aspects. Research Implications: All the actors involved assess resilient flooring more positively than the current hard flooring. However, the final choice between resilient experimental pavements differs according to actors and users. Originality/Value: This study contributes to providing a holistic view of a physical element such as the floor of a residence for the elderly. The relevance is not only to highlight the physical potential of the new material, but also to underline the importance of taking into consideration those elements that influence the care task as well as the perceptions that the materials themselves produce in the residents.

Introduction: Forefoot varus prevalence varies widely (8.6–83.67%) and may be attributable to the lack of a gold standard. Clinical methods are limited by subjective positioning and landmark variability. This study established a reliable radiographic reference using a dual-method approach. Methods: Following GRRAS guidelines, 70 lower limbs (35 participants) were evaluated using consecutive sampling. Three blinded investigators performed the measurements. Reliability was assessed throughout inter-rater (30-min interval) and intra-rater (≥30-day washout) sessions. Dual radiographic methods (metallic nail vs. radiopaque markers) were compared against standardized goniometry. The analysis included ICC(2,1) and ICC(3,1), SEM, MDC₉₅, and Bland–Altman plots, with a significance threshold of p < 0.005. A sensitivity analysis using one randomly selected limb per participant (n = 35) confirmed the robustness of the findings. Results: Participants (mean age 32.77 ± 10.8 years, 54% female) had a mean forefoot varus of 15.53 ± 7.35°, with a prevalence of 97.1% (≥0°). Goniometric inter-rater reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.987, MDC₉₅ = 1.382°). The marker-based radiographic method demonstrated excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.906, MDC₉₅ = 1.129°). The agreement between goniometry and marker-based radiography was strong (ICC = 0.898). All analyses surpassed the p < 0.005 threshold. No significant differences were found for sex or laterality (p > 0.005). Conclusions: Marker-based radiography provides a validated reference standard with excellent reliability. Standardized clinical goniometry demonstrated excellent reliability and strong radiographic agreement, making it appropriate for routine assessment (changes > 1.4° represent true structural change). Radiography should be reserved for research or definitive structural confirmation. Limitations include the lack of inter-reader radiographic reproducibility assessment and limited generalizability to young adults (mean age 33 years) with predominantly forefoot varus alignment.