# Pedobarography: A Review on Methods and Practical Use in Foot Disorders
## 4 Discussion
### Pedoaborgraphic Measurements  
The pressure distribution is determined using a measuring platform or mat on which the person stands or walks during the test. Sensor signals are transmitted to a PC to create an image of the plantar surface as a pressure map expressed in g/cm\({}^{2}\). The credibility of results is influenced by the exact horizontal positioning of the platform. Data such as age, body weight, and height, and the foot length of a patient are entered into the computer memory according to the operating instruction of the specific system [27; 28]. Currently, over 40 measurement systems, both static and dynamic, are used to record the plantar surface pressure (e.g., Footscan, F-scan, Pedar-X, EMED, PEL, Electrohprogram, Musgrave Footprint System, IngVaL, or Gaitview). The systems have methodological and practical differences that make comparisons difficult. For instance, F-scan and Pedar-X systems accept footwear during the examination as they require in-shoe sensors in contrast to barefoot trials in other baropodometers. The methods include optic, piezoelectric, resistive, capacitive techniques based on digital signal inputs [18; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33; 34; 35; 36]. The image of the plantar pressure distribution can be presented in several ways. Standardly, pressures are displayed using the full color range from blue (low pressure) to red (high pressure) as a 2D \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l} \hline \hline  & **Articles (n)** \\ \hline Pedoaborographic systems & 10 \\ \hline Pedoaborgraphic measurements & 6 \\ \hline Masking foot regions & 9 \\ \hline Conducting the examination & 13 \\ \hline Types of pedoaborgraphic assessments & 3 \\ \hline Basic information/definitions & 4 \\ \hline Limitations in pedoaborgraphic examination & 24 \\ \hline The contents of some articles overlap different topics making the total number greater than the 51 articles reviewed. \\ \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Main topics covered in pedoaboragraphy-related articles reviewed. or 3D image. Additionally, the pressure distribution can be presented as 'iso-clamps' using three colors usually corresponding to the three pressure ranges: 25-50%, 50-75%, and \(>\)75% of the maximum pressure. Pressures below 25% are invisible in this option. The reference values for 'iso-clamps' can be adapted case-by-case depending on the foot region. When evaluating pressures in the hindfoot region, it is advisable to set higher reference values than those for the forefoot. The percentage visualization also is possible. Pressure points are then expressed as a percentage of the maximum pressure, and the graph is presented as an image composed of a series of numerical values. This method of the findings illustration seems optimal when pressure values are read off'manually' as well as for the interpretation and verification of results depicted by a range of colors [27, 37]. The following parameters can be evaluated with static pedobarography: average and maximum pressures (g/cm\({}^{2}\)) and total support surface for each foot (cm\({}^{2}\)). The postural examination evaluates the average and maximum pressures, total support region for each foot, and the contact area of the plantar surface with the ground at specific moments of standing. Dynamic pedobarography evaluates these variables at specific moments in gait phases. Additionally, it provides the foot contact pattern, plantar pressure distribution such as peak pressure time or pressure-time integrals, and the center of pressure (CoP) trajectories [4, 38]. [PERSON] et al. [39] have proposed a division into the spatiotemporal variables (step and stride length, stride width, step time, speed, ground contact duration, and cadence) and the force and pressure variables (peak forces and pressures, mean plantar pressure, CoP, speed of CoP shift, contact region, force-time integral, arch index, and the foot posture).