Our method the determination of the mechanical features of the human foot

The mechanical characteristics of the feet of 175 healthy (without any pathology of musculoskeletal system) young men and 315 young women of the Volgograd state medical university at the age from 17 to 21 years old were observed. The research purpose was to acquire data about the resilient characteristics of the foot under the natural conditions at young persons of both sexes. The examination of the morphofunctional condition of the foot was carried out by means of the computerized plantography, involving the systemic analysis and graphical analytical interpretation of the digital image of the foot. Scanning of the plantar surface of the foot was carried out consistently under compressive loads on each foot which were equal to 50% and 80% of the person's body weight. The height of the longitudinal arch of the foot was measured concurrently. Resilience coefficient, deformation coefficient, Young's module and Poisson's coefficient were calculated in both groups. As a result of the fulfilled research it was revealed that the highest deformation coefficient in the persons of both sexes was found along the vertical axis of the foot. The lowest deformation coefficient was revealed along the sagittal axis of the foot. The persons of both sexes had the greatest Poisson's coefficient along the frontal axis of the foot. Poisson's coefficient of the women foot in this axis was higher in comparison with young men. Tensile modulus or Young's modulus of the young men was greater than that of young women. The obtained data of the elasticity of the human foot allow to characterize its amortisation function in normal condition and the extent of its loss at various foot deformations. The proposed computerized diagnostic module and the computerized detection of morphofunctional parameters allow to carry out an assessment of the human foot elasticity. The foot indicators (resilience coefficient, deformation coefficient, Young's modulus and Poisson's coefficient) characterize its amortisation function and ability to resist the action of loadings. Thus, a sexual differentiation of specific resilient characteristics of the foot in youth is identified. The developed method can be used for the investigation of elastic properties of the human foot in various age groups, sports specializations, and in patients with various foot anomalies (diseases).