Foot loading characteristics of Chinese bound feet women: a comparative analysis

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 17;10(4):e0121695. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121695. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The custom of bound feet among Chinese women has existed for almost a century. This practice has influenced the daily life of Chinese women, especially during everyday locomotion. The primary aim of this study is to analyze the loading patterns of bound feet. Specifically, the plantar pressure and center of pressure were analyzed for peak pressure, contact area, force time integral, center of pressure displacement velocity and trajectory in the anterior-posterior direction via a comparison with normal feet. The key outcomes from this work were that the forefoot and rearfoot of bound feet bear the whole loading during stance phase. The center of pressure displacement velocity of bound feet was also greatly reduced with the shortening of trajectories. This suggests that the proprioceptive system adjusts motor function to adapt to new loading patterns while maintaining locomotive stability. A biomechanical understanding of bound feet may assist with prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of bound feet disorders.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Ankle / physiology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Female
  • Foot / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Pressure*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Walking

Grants and funding

The study sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81301600), K.C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University, and Ningbo Natural Science Foundation (2013A610262).