Pressure measurement

Pressure represents the amount of force exerted per unit of area and is a measure that is relevant in most sporting and clinical contexts. For example, when a large force is applied to an athlete over a relatively small contact area, the risk of the body being damaged is significantly increased. For this reason, protective sports equipment such as shin pads are designed to increase the contact area to reduce the pressure exerted on the underlying tissues and minimise the risk of injury. To evaluate dynamic changes in pressure distribution beneath the feet during activities such as, standing, walking and running, scientists have traditionally used thin pressure-sensitive insoles comprising a large number of pressure sensors. These sensors allow high- and low-pressure areas beneath the feet to be easily identified and, hence, have been used to investigate the effect of different types of footwear on pressure patterns and injury risk in different populations. In biomechanics, pressure is typically reported in units of Newtons per metre squared (N/m2), although pressure may also be expressed in units of pascals (Pa) or kilopascals (KPa) or relative to standard atmospheric pressure.