Examination of gender and positional differences in young persons' plantar perception as measured by a monofilament algometer

[Purpose] In this study, we used a monofilament algometer to make measurements and examined differences in plantar sensory threshold value between gender and four points on the sole of the foot. [Subjects] The subjects were 85 young persons (47 males and 38 females) without nerve or orthopedic disorders who provided their consent after receiving an explanation of the purpose of this study. [Method] One measurer measured the plantar pressure perception threshold value of each of the subjects. Gender and positional differences were examined using two-way analysis of variance with multiple comparison, Tukey's test, as a post hoc test. [Results] No gender differences between the four points on the sole of the foot were found. The perception threshold was greatest at the center of the heel, and declined in the order of the hallux, the head of the first metatarsal and the center of the medial longitudinal arch. [Conclusion] The results reveal that the parts of the foot which have the most mechanoreceptors have the lowest perception threshold values.