Development of a daily foot load index to quantify external factors in foot strength research
Description
Introduction: While investigating foot strength, a participant’s external activity levels represent a confounding variable influencing study outcomes. To mitigate this, studies instruct participants to refrain from additional loading activities. However, compliance with such restrictions can be challenging, especially for individuals with occupations requiring prolonged foot loading. This limitation outlines the need for reliable methods to quantify daily foot loading for a more accurate interpretation of training effects.
Methods: To capture the participant’s extent of daily physical stress on the foot, a daily foot load index will be developed including variables such as activity type, footwear, and step count. A literature review identified validated approaches that quantify daily foot loading or relevant variables to be considered when creating a composite index.
Results: Previous studies quantified foot loading for activities including standing, walking, and running using plantar pressure time integral (PTI) values which will represent loading type.1,2,3 Studies have also shown that minimalistic footwear experiences different pressure loading than cushioned shoes.4 Therefore, manufacturer-reported cushioning and stack height will be included to account for variability in foot loading attributed to type of footwear. Finally, participants’ daily step counts using personal technology (watches/phones) will be incorporated into the calculation.
Discussion: This index provides a practical measure of cumulative foot loading by integrating activity, steps, and footwear. The index is limited to the accuracy of self-reporting and simplified shoe metrics but will be the first tool to capture daily foot loading for design of foot loading programs in addition to control of foot strengthening studies.
Citation Information
Eshenaur, Jadah; Howard, Ella; and McClinton, Shane, "Development of a daily foot load index to quantify external factors in foot strength research" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 18.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/18
Development of a daily foot load index to quantify external factors in foot strength research
Introduction: While investigating foot strength, a participant’s external activity levels represent a confounding variable influencing study outcomes. To mitigate this, studies instruct participants to refrain from additional loading activities. However, compliance with such restrictions can be challenging, especially for individuals with occupations requiring prolonged foot loading. This limitation outlines the need for reliable methods to quantify daily foot loading for a more accurate interpretation of training effects.
Methods: To capture the participant’s extent of daily physical stress on the foot, a daily foot load index will be developed including variables such as activity type, footwear, and step count. A literature review identified validated approaches that quantify daily foot loading or relevant variables to be considered when creating a composite index.
Results: Previous studies quantified foot loading for activities including standing, walking, and running using plantar pressure time integral (PTI) values which will represent loading type.1,2,3 Studies have also shown that minimalistic footwear experiences different pressure loading than cushioned shoes.4 Therefore, manufacturer-reported cushioning and stack height will be included to account for variability in foot loading attributed to type of footwear. Finally, participants’ daily step counts using personal technology (watches/phones) will be incorporated into the calculation.
Discussion: This index provides a practical measure of cumulative foot loading by integrating activity, steps, and footwear. The index is limited to the accuracy of self-reporting and simplified shoe metrics but will be the first tool to capture daily foot loading for design of foot loading programs in addition to control of foot strengthening studies.
