Evaluation of toe function based on the plantar pressure distribution while walking and its relationships with general gait parameters

The foot is an important part of the human body that helps to maintain and shift a person's center of gravity. The roles of the toes in balancing and walking have been the focus of recent research. However, there are few methods or systems that can be used to quantitatively evaluate toe function while walking with respect to aging. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop an evaluation method for toe function based on the plantar pressure distribution while walking and evaluate how it relates to general gait parameters. Herein, we propose a method to identify the boundary position between the toe and foot based on the foot pressure distribution matrix. This technique was applied to gait analysis for 1774 female and 1553 male participants aged 20-90 years. The results of the statistical analysis suggest that the toe area ratio may reflect gait function and aging.