Assessing Clubfoot and Cerebral Palsy by Pedobarography

Abstract

The use of pedobarography to assess foot deformity in children with cerebral palsy or clubfoot is becoming increasingly prevalent. Given the unique challenges posed by these populations, it is critical that a standardized protocol is used when collecting pressure data. A number of factors need to be considered when developing such a protocol, including the physical setup of the system, as well as the process for acquiring the data. Currently, pedobarography is used in four broad areas for children with foot deformity, including assessing the efficacy of specific interventions, classification of feet into specific categories, correlation of findings with other measurement modalities, and characterization of different groups of patients. In order to reliably use pressure data to aid treatment planning, further research is required to link pressure findings to specific clinical and functional limitations in children with foot deformity. In addition, the predictive value of pedobarography in terms of treatment outcomes is yet to be established. It is recommended that future work focus on these key areas.