Toward early detection of the tendency to stress fractures.

Certain characteristics of the foot structure represented by the contact pressure display method provide a clear indication of the tendency to experience stress fractures. The main results of the research project are (i) the static foot-ground pressure diagram may supply basic information about the foot structure, needed to understand its behaviour, (ii) a new concept of stress intensity parameters was introduced and appeared to be basic for the foot structure evaluation, (iii) a set of criteria was established to classify the foot structure and its tendency to stress fractures, (iv) a simple computerized screening technique can calculate and classify the values of above parameters and relate them to the established criteria. The results may enable a scientific and practical approach in characterizing foot orthopaedic problems and might help to rate the stress fracture risk.