Effects of Long-Term Walking on Baropodometric Parameters and Manual Muscle Strength

Abstract

Objectives: Assess the static baropodometric parameters and manual muscle strength before and during five days of long-distance walking. Methods: Longitudinal study that assessed 25 male participants. Five assessments were made: baseline 20 days before the event (A0) and the remainder (A1, A2, A3 and A4) during the walk at the end of each day. For the assessment, a baropodometer and the hydraulic manual dynamometer. Results: The participants' average age was 45.6±9.1 years and the mean body mass index 23.1±2.6kg/m 2. The assessment included 250 feet: 204 neutral and 46 hollow. The maximum pressure in the right feet increased between A1 and A4 (p=0.025) and dropped between A2 and A3 (p=0.051). The contact surface of the right feet decreased between A0 and A1 (p<0.001); increased between A1 and A2 (p=0.001) and decreased between A2 and A3 (p<0.001). The contact surface of the left feet decreased between A0 and A1 (p=0.001); increased between A1 and A2 (p<0.001) and between A1 and A4 (p=0.002). The right anteroposterior core strength increased between A0 and A3 (p=0.001) and between A0 and A4 (p=0.009); on the left side, it increased between A0 and A2 (p=0.043), A0 and A3 (p=0.008) and A0 and A4 (p=0.001). The muscle strength did not change. Conclusion: Most participants in the sample possessed neutral feet. The burden on the lower right limb increased, which may have been due to limb dominance and/or changes in the route relief and the distance walked.