emed®
Plantar pressure platform
- Detailed pressure distribution
- Barefoot measurement
- Clinical and research workflows
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Scientific Explanation
Pressure matters.
Ground reaction force tells you how much force is applied. Plantar pressure shows where that force is distributed across the foot.
emed records the barefoot pressure pattern with a calibrated capacitive sensor matrix, making local peaks, left-right differences and rollover behavior easier to interpret.
High pressure
Low pressure
Plantar pressure helps you understand:
- Localized high-pressure areas
- Left-right asymmetries
- Heel-to-toe rollover patterns
- Altered forefoot or rearfoot loading
- Reduced or excessive toe loading
- Changes in contact area
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Measurement Method
How emed measures plantar pressure.
The subject walks naturally across the platform. Thousands of individually calibrated capacitive sensors record pressure under the plantar surface during stance, walking or running.
The result is a dynamic pressure map with quantitative data on pressure, force, contact area and spatiotemporal parameters.
Quantitative results
- Peak pressure
- Mean pressure
- Force
- Contact area
- Rollover
- Timing parameters
Watch emed in motion
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Comparison
emed vs. other methods.
Each measurement method answers a different question. emed is the right tool when barefoot pressure distribution, force and contact area need to be measured together.
Learn more about the platforms →
pedar®
In-shoe pressure measurement
- Pressure inside footwear
- Real-world movement
- Footwear and orthotic evaluation
loadsol®
In-shoe force measurement
- Total plantar force in footwear
- Real-world movement and feedback
- 1-, 2- or 3-zone force layouts
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Evidence
Trusted in research and practice.
emed is used across biomechanics, diabetic-foot research, orthopedics, pediatrics, sports medicine and rehabilitation. Its value is the combination of reliable pressure maps with repeatable reporting.
Selected emed journal publications
80 journal articles from 2000 to 2026.
2024–202612 journal articles
- Agreement between the pedobarography results of emed-x® and emed-xl® platforms in children and adults Blackwood V; Stevens WR Jr; Jeans KA. 2026 · Gait & Posture
- Effects of First Metatarsophalangeal Osteoarthritis on Plantar Pressures Across Multiple Activities Telfer S; Wukelic C; Entress N; Ledoux WR. 2026 · Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
- Foot Dimension Assessment: Reliability and Agreement of Manual, Pedobarographic, and Handheld 3D Scanning Methods Schleese L; Mittlmeier T; Fischer DC; Abshagen P; Opfermann J; Gahr P; Behrens M; Bruhn S; Weippert M. 2026 · Journal of Clinical Medicine Assigned to January 2026 issue (15:1); first published online 23 December 2025.
- Quantifying differences in high-pressure region mapping between dynamic in-shoe and barefoot plantar pressure in diabetic subjects Heino D; Telfer S; et al.. 2026 · Journal of Biomechanics
- Analysis of centre of pressure trajectories and plantar pressure distribution to map development of foot-ground interactions from new to confident walking infants Montagnani E; Morrison SC; Price C. 2025 · PLOS ONE Great Foundations longitudinal cohort; related infant-analysis articles may reuse participants or visits.
- Impact of body weight and age on plantar pressure in typically developing children: Normative data and methodological considerations Behrendt A; Siebert T; D’Souza S. 2025 · Journal of Children's Orthopaedics
- Normal Pedobarography Values in a Multiracial Community of Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study Haidar MN; Che-Ahmad A; Ayeop MAS; Ahmad-Ismani MS; Nik-Alyani NAA. 2025 · Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal November 2025 journal issue; PubMed indexing in January 2026 is not the publication year. Possible overlap with earlier Kuantan cohorts.
- The individuality of plantar pressure indices enables the reduction of descriptive gait data required for diagnostic purposes Latour E; Latour EE; Arlet J. 2025 · Scientific Reports
- The predictive value of cumulative plantar tissue stress on future plantar foot ulceration in people with diabetes—A 12-month prospective observational study Hulshof CM; van Netten JJ; Busch-Westbroek TE; Sabelis LWE; Peters EJG; Pijnappels M; Bus SA. 2025 · Diabetic Medicine
- A method for automated masking and plantar pressure analysis using segmented computed tomography scans Brady LM; Wukelic C; Ledoux WR. 2024 · Gait & Posture Online April 2024; journal issue June 2024. PMC manuscript availability in 2025 is not the publication year.
- A Preliminary Study on the Effects of 4-Week Training Program with Interactive Floor Support on Plantar Pressure Distribution in Sedentary Individuals Aydoğdu O; Erdoğan RU; Sarı Z; Polat MG. 2024 · Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences
- Discrepancies in plantar pressure distribution between affected and unaffected sides in patients with plantar fasciitis Kyung MG; Lee DO; Moon K; Yoon YS; Lee DY. 2024 · Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery
2019–202315 journal articles
- Foot Plantar Pressure Abnormalities in Near Adulthood Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Wysocka-Mincewicz M; Szczerbik E; Mazur M; Grabik M; Kalinowska M; Syczewska M. 2023 · Biomedicines
- Foot plantar pressure and centre of pressure trajectory differ between straight and turning steps in infants Price C; Montagnani E; Nester C; Morrison SC. 2023 · Scientific Reports Secondary selection of visits from the Great Foundations longitudinal cohort; not an independent recruitment cohort.
- Foot Plantar Pressure Profile Alteration after Microsurgical Great Toe-to-thumb Transfer Tang SFT; Tang ACW; Chen CK; et al.. 2023 · Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open
- Masking approaches to analyse plantar pressure data of new and confident walking infants Montagnani E; Morrison SC; Price C. 2023 · Gait & Posture May overlap participants in related infant-gait publications; not assumed independent.
- pressuRe: an R package for analyzing and visualizing biomechanical pressure distribution data Telfer S; Li EY. 2023 · Scientific Reports Secondary-data / software-methods article; not a new independent cohort.
- Comparing Plantar Pressure Distribution and Vertical Ground Reaction Force Between Healthy Subjects and Middle-aged Adults With Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD) Memar R; Farjad Pezeshk A; Ghasempour H. 2022 · Journal of Modern Rehabilitation
- Pedobarography Study among Malay Population in Kuantan, Pahang: A Pilot Study Nasuruddin H; Che-Ahmad A; Ayeop MAS; Nik Mohd Najmi NMF; Ahmad MW. 2022 · IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia Possible overlap with 2018 preliminary abstract and 2025 multiracial study; not assumed independent.
- Foot ulcer recurrence, plantar pressure and footwear adherence in people with diabetes and Charcot midfoot deformity: A cohort analysis Keukenkamp R; Busch-Westbroek TE; Barn R; Woodburn J; Bus SA. 2021 · Diabetic Medicine 2021 journal issue; first online October/November 2020. Secondary cohort analysis overlapping earlier footwear trial.
- Pedobarographic Statistical Parametric Mapping of plantar pressure data in new and confident walking infants: A preliminary analysis Montagnani E; Morrison SC; Varga M; Price C. 2021 · Journal of Biomechanics Online September 2021; journal issue 2 December 2021.
- Plantar load transfer in children: a descriptive study with two pathological case studies Brierty A; Carty CP; Giacomozzi C; Phillips T; Walsh HPJ; Bade D; Horan S. 2021 · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Foot characteristics during walking in 6–14-year-old children Kasović M; Štefan L; Zvonár M. 2020 · Scientific Reports
- Locomotion Variations of Arch Index and Interlimb Symmetry in Shod and Barefoot Populations Yu P; Liang M; Ren F. 2020 · Applied Bionics and Biomechanics
- Optimizing footwear for the diabetic foot: Data-driven custom-made footwear concepts and their effect on pressure relief to prevent diabetic foot ulceration Zwaferink JBJ; Custers W; Paardekooper I; Berendsen HA; Bus SA. 2020 · PLOS ONE
- Association of quadriceps angle with plantar pressure distribution, navicular height and calcaneo-tibial angle Elvan A; Simsek IE; Cakiroglu MA; Angin S. 2019 · Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica
- Evaluation of orthotic insoles for people with diabetes who are at-risk of first ulceration Martinez-Santos A; Preece S; Nester CJ. 2019 · Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
2013–201823 journal articles
- Centre of pressure characteristics in normal, planus and cavus feet Buldt AK; Forghany S; Landorf KB; Murley GS; Levinger P; Menz HB. 2018 · Journal of Foot and Ankle Research Same-sized 92-participant cohort as the related 2018 Buldt plantar-pressure paper; possible sample overlap.
- Comparisons of Foot Pressure between Teenager Girls and Young Female Adults Fang Q. 2018 · Physical Activity and Health
- Foot posture is associated with plantar pressure during gait: A comparison of normal, planus and cavus feet Buldt AK; Forghany S; Landorf KB; Levinger P; Murley GS; Menz HB. 2018 · Gait & Posture
- Kinetic analysis of canine gait on the effect of failure tendon repair and tendon graft Cheng YS; Reisdorf R; Vrieze A; Moran SL; Amadio PC; An KN; Zhao C. 2018 · Journal of Biomechanics Journal issue 2018; online first 2017. Animal study.
- Evaluation of plantar pressure distributions in patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency: preoperative and postoperative changes Çetin E; Deveci MA; Songür M; Özer H; Turanlı S. 2017 · Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences
- Growing-up (habitually) barefoot influences the development of foot and arch morphology in children and adolescents Hollander K; de Villiers JE; Sehner S; Wegscheider K; Braumann KM; Venter R; Zech A. 2017 · Scientific Reports
- In Vivo Plantar Pressures in Adult-Acquired Flatfoot Compared to Control Using an Intraoperative Pedobarographic Device MacMahon A; Hillstrom HJ; Do HT; Chan JY; Deland JT; Ellis SJ. 2017 · HSS Journal
- Pedobarography as a clinical tool in the management of diabetic feet in New Zealand: a feasibility study Gurney JK; Kersting UG; Rosenbaum D; Dissanayake A; York S; Grech R; Ng A; Milne B; Stanley J; Sarfati D. 2017 · Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
- Plantar Pressure Distribution in Patients with Flexible Flatfoot: Measured by Platform System and In-Shoe System Tang ACW; Wu HM; Chen CK; Tang SFT. 2017 · Rehabilitation Practice and Science
- Spatiotemporal and plantar pressure patterns of 1000 healthy individuals aged 3–101 years McKay MJ; Cartwright J; Ferreira P; Simic M; Vanicek N; Wojciechowski E; Mudge A; Burns J; 1000 Norms Project Consortium. 2017 · Gait & Posture Some earlier repository citations use Jennifer N. Baldwin; current publisher/PubMed author list uses Jennifer Cartwright.
- Virtually optimized insoles for offloading the diabetic foot: A randomized crossover study Telfer S; Woodburn J; Collier A; Cavanagh PR. 2017 · Journal of Biomechanics
- Dynamic loading and kinematics analysis of vertical jump based on different forefoot morphology Shu Y; Zhang Y; Fu L; Fekete G; Baker JS; Li J; Gu Y. 2016 · SpringerPlus
- Facilitating the interpretation of pedobarography: the relative midfoot index as marker for pathologic gait in ankle osteoarthritic and contralateral feet Frigg A; Frigg R; Wiewiorski M; Goldoni J; Horisberger M. 2016 · Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
- Horon oynamanın ayak tabanına etkisinin araştırılması Aydos L; Kaya M; Kanatlı U; Yüksel MF; Uzun A. 2016 · İnönü Üniversitesi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi Turkish-language article. Repository gives publication year 2016; web posting 2017. DOI not located.
- Influence of Obesity on Foot Loading Characteristics in Gait for Children Aged 1 to 12 Years Mueller S; Carlsohn A; Mueller J; Baur H; Mayer F. 2016 · PLOS ONE Potential cohort overlap with Müller et al. 2012; do not sum participants across papers.
- Plantar heel pain and foot loading during normal walking Sullivan J; Burns J; Adams R; Pappas E; Crosbie J. 2015 · Gait & Posture
- Plantar Loading Reflects Ulceration Risks of Diabetic Foot with Toe Deformation Lu YC; Mei QC; Gu YD. 2015 · BioMed Research International
- Risk Factors for Plantar Foot Ulcer Recurrence in Neuropathic Diabetic Patients Waaijman R; de Haart M; Arts MLJ; Wever D; Verlouw AJWE; Nollet F; Bus SA. 2014 · Diabetes Care Analysis within a footwear trial; cohort overlaps with related footwear/Charcot publications.
- Clustering and classification of regional peak plantar pressures of diabetic feet Bennetts CJ; Owings TM; Erdemir A; Botek G; Cavanagh PR. 2013 · Journal of Biomechanics Clinical database analysis; journal issue 2013, online first 2012.
- Distribution of Sole Pressure in Female Football Players Uzun A; Aydos L; Kaya M; Kanatlı U; Esen E. 2013 · Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi English title as supplied by the journal; Turkish-language article. DOI not verified.
- Effect of Custom-Made Footwear on Foot Ulcer Recurrence in Diabetes: A multicenter randomized controlled trial Bus SA; Waaijman R; Arts MLJ; et al.. 2013 · Diabetes Care Known related cohort publications include Waaijman et al. (2014) and Keukenkamp et al. (2021). Both emed and pedar were used; count as one paper.
- Lower leg muscle strengthening does not redistribute plantar load in diabetic polyneuropathy: a randomised controlled trial Melai T; Schaper NC; IJzerman TH; et al.. 2013 · Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
- Reliability of footprint geometric and plantar loading measurements in children using the Emed® M system Tong JWK; Kong PW. 2013 · Gait & Posture June 2013 journal issue; online publication 21 December 2012.
2007–201217 journal articles
- Buz hokeycilerde uzun süre paten kullanımının ayak tabanı basınç dağılımlarına etkisinin araştırılması Uzun A; Aydos L; Kaya M; Kanatlı U; Esen E. 2012 · SPORMETRE Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi Turkish title retained. English journal title: Researching the effect of longtime skate using on distribution of sole pressure in ice hockey players. Journal English abstract contains apparent copy-editing inconsistencies; Turkish methods clearly identify ice hockey.
- Static and dynamic foot characteristics in children aged 1–13 years: A cross-sectional study Müller S; Carlsohn A; Müller J; Baur H; Mayer F. 2012 · Gait & Posture Journal issue March 2012; online publication 25 November 2011. Potential cohort overlap with Mueller et al. 2016.
- Effect of wrestling on the foot sole of elite wrestlers Aydos L. 2011 · International Journal of Physical Sciences
- The Accuracy of an Automasking Algorithm in Plantar Pressure Measurements Ellis SJ; Stoecklein H; Yu JC; Syrkin G; Hillstrom HJ; Deland JT. 2011 · HSS Journal First published online 30 November 2010; journal issue 2011.
- The Effect of Foot Structure on 1st Metatarsophalangeal Joint Flexibility and Hallucal Loading Rao S; Song J; Kraszewski A; et al.. 2011 · Gait & Posture
- Normal pressure values and repeatability of the Emed® ST2 system Maetzler M; Bochdansky T; Abboud RJ. 2010 · Gait & Posture
- Relationships between segmental foot mobility and plantar loading in individuals with and without diabetes and neuropathy Rao S; Saltzman CL; Yack HJ. 2010 · Gait & Posture Journal issue 2010; online first 2009. Spelling of neuropathy normalized from manuscript typo.
- Dynamic foot function and morphology in elite rugby league athletes of different ethnicity Gurney JK; Kersting UG; Rosenbaum D. 2009 · Applied Ergonomics
- From “first” to “last” steps in life – Pressure patterns of three generations Bosch K; Nagel A; Weigend L; Rosenbaum D. 2009 · Clinical Biomechanics
- Generalized Joint Laxity Associated With Increased Medial Foot Loading in Female Athletes Barber Foss KD; Ford KR; Myer GD; Hewett TE. 2009 · Journal of Athletic Training
- Pedobarographic Analysis Following Ponseti Treatment for Congenital Clubfoot Sinclair MF; Bosch K; Rosenbaum D; Böhm S. 2009 · Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
- Between-day reliability of repeated plantar pressure distribution measurements in a normal population Gurney JK; Kersting UG; Rosenbaum D. 2008 · Gait & Posture Journal issue 2008; online first 2007.
- Ethnic differences in plantar pressures in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy Solano MP; Prieto LM; Varon JC; Moreno M; Boulton AJM. 2008 · Diabetic Medicine
- Mid foot kinetics characterize structural polymorphism in diabetic foot disease Sinacore DR; Bohnert KL; Hastings MK; et al.. 2008 · Clinical Biomechanics Journal issue 2008; online first 2007.
- Normal pressure values and repeatability of the Emed® ST4 system Putti AB; Arnold GP; Cochrane LA; Abboud RJ. 2008 · Gait & Posture Journal issue 2008; online first 2007.
- Prediction of peak pressure from clinical and radiological measurements in patients with diabetes Guldemond NA; Leffers P; Walenkamp GHIM; Schaper NC; Sanders AP; Nieman FHM; van Rhijn LW. 2008 · BMC Endocrine Disorders
- Pressure distribution patterns under the metatarsal heads in healthy individuals Kanatlı U; Yetkin H; Simsek A; Ozturk AM; Esen E; Besli K. 2008 · Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica Journal issue is 2008 (42(1):26–30); the publisher's migrated website incorrectly displays a 2020 upload date. English title of Turkish-language article.
2000–200613 journal articles
- An equinus deformity of the ankle accounts for only a small amount of the increased forefoot plantar pressure in patients with diabetes Orendurff MS; Rohr ES; Sangeorzan BJ; Weaver K; Czerniecki JM. 2006 · Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume
- Testing the proficiency to distinguish locations with elevated plantar pressure within and between professional groups of foot therapists Guldemond NA; Leffers P; Nieman FHM; Sanders AP; Schaper NC; Walenkamp GHIM. 2006 · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Elevated plantar pressures in neuropathic diabetic patients with claw/hammer toe deformity Bus SA; Maas M; de Lange A; Michels RPJ; Levi M. 2005 · Journal of Biomechanics
- The effect of pes cavus on foot pain and plantar pressure Burns J; Crosbie J; Hunt A; Ouvrier R. 2005 · Clinical Biomechanics
- Static and dynamic plantar pressure measurements in adolescents Tuna H; Yildiz M; Celtik C; Kokino S. 2004 · Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica Turkish article; English title shown. Original issue 2004, not later repository posting dates. DOI not located.
- The influence of walking speed on plantar pressure measurements using the two-step gait initiation protocol Taylor AJ; Menz HB; Keenan AM. 2004 · The Foot
- What are the effects of obesity in children on plantar pressure distributions? Dowling AM; Steele JR; Baur LA. 2004 · International Journal of Obesity
- Evaluation of the transverse metatarsal arch of the foot with gait analysis Kanatli U; Yetkin H; Bölükbaşi S. 2003 · Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery
- First Metatarsophalangeal Arthrodesis: A Clinical, Pedobarographic and Gait Analysis Study DeFrino PF; Brodsky JW; Pollo FE; Crenshaw SJ; Beischer AD. 2002 · Foot & Ankle International
- Plantar pressure differences between obese and non-obese adults: a biomechanical analysis Hills AP; Hennig EM; McDonald M; Bar-Or O. 2001 · International Journal of Obesity
- The effect of low-Dye taping on peak plantar pressures of normal feet during gait Russo SJ; Chipchase LS. 2001 · Australian Journal of Physiotherapy
- The Relationship of the Heel Pad Compressibility and Plantar Pressure Distribution Kanatli U; Yetkin H; Simsek A; Besli K; Ozturk A. 2001 · Foot & Ankle International
- Normal values of plantar pressure measurements determined using the EMED-SF system Bryant AR; Tinley P; Singer KP. 2000 · Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association
Diabetic foot
Plantar pressure patterns, ulcer risk and offloading strategies.
Foot deformity
Functional differences in pes planus, pes cavus and related patterns.
Sports biomechanics
Gait analysis, performance questions and injury prevention.
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Applications
Clinical and research applications.
emed supports barefoot pressure-distribution assessment wherever local loading, gait pattern and foot function need to be understood together.
Orthopedic diagnoses
Map load transfer in flatfoot, high arch, pronation and forefoot patterns.
Diabetic foot care
Find high-pressure regions and guide offloading, footwear and orthotic decisions.
Sports medicine
Compare walking or running pressure patterns for performance and injury questions.
Post-surgery assessment
Track weight-bearing and pressure redistribution through recovery.
Pediatric diagnoses
Document flatfoot, toe-walking, asymmetry and uneven stride patterns.
Rheumatologic conditions
Compare arthritis-related pressure changes and support strategies over time.
Neurological disorders
Review altered rollover, imbalance and asymmetric loading patterns.
Elderly foot care
Assess pressure patterns linked to pain, balance changes and mobility limits.
Custom orthotic design
Tune insoles and footwear using region-specific pressure data.
Weight-related loading
Monitor how body weight and gait changes influence plantar load.
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The Product
emed platforms.
emed platforms are available in two sizes. Choose the platform that fits your clinical or research workflow.
Technical data
| Specification | emed® s | emed® xl |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure range | 10 - 1,270 kPa | 10 - 1,270 kPa |
| Dimensions | 690 x 400 x 21 mm | 1,529 x 504 x 21 mm |
| Sensor area | 540 x 320 mm | 1,440 x 440 mm |
| Sensors | 6,912 | 25,344 |
| Resolution | 4 sensors/cm2 | 4 sensors/cm2 |
| Frequency | 120 Hz | 100 Hz |
| Accuracy | ± 5% ZAS | ± 5% ZAS |
| Temperature range | 15 - 40°C | 15 - 40°C |
| Synchronization | sync-out/in | sync-out/in |
Both platforms measure calibrated pressure, force and contact area. The emed-xl also provides spatiotemporal parameters. ZAS means zero at start.
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Ready to get started?
Our experts can help you find the right emed configuration for your assessment or research workflow.
