Baropodometer

A baropodometer is a device used to measure plantar pressure distribution across the bottom of the feet. It can be a pressure-sensing insole, a pressure platform, or a combination, capturing how weight is distributed during standing or locomotion.

Most systems use arrays of sensors (capacitive, piezoresistive, or optical) that transduce contact pressure into electrical signals. Data are presented as plantar pressure maps, with metrics such as peak pressure, mean pressure, contact area, and force-time integral. In dynamic mode, sampling rates typically range from 100 to 1000 Hz.

Applications include clinical assessment for diabetic foot risk and neuropathy evaluation, orthotics and footwear design, gait and posture analysis, rehabilitation monitoring, and athletic biomechanics. Clinicians may use baropodometry to identify abnormal pressure concentrations, plan interventions, or track changes after treatment.

Limitations and considerations involve device calibration and sensor drift that can affect accuracy; results depend on foot placement, shoe type, and walking speed; normative values vary by age, body mass, and population. Proper interpretation requires standardized protocols and reference data.

Related concepts include plantar pressure measurement, plantar pressure distribution, and gait analysis.