Dia analysis of plantar pressure data analysis may seem too technical at first glance, but believe me: understanding how your feet distribute force on the pedals can be the secret to improving your cycling performance and even preventing injuries.
With accessible tools like Excel and Power BI, you can transform raw data into valuable information for your training. We are talking about real benefits, such as greater pedaling efficiency, early identification of overloads and personalized adjustments that increase your comfort and performance.
In this guide, you will learn in a practical way how to import your data, create intuitive graphs and create interactive dashboards. All with visual examples, simple language and a total focus on helping you pedal smarter and safer.
What is Plantar Pressure and Why Does It Matter for Cyclists?
Plantar pressure is the distribution of the force that your feet exert on a surface, in this case, the pedal. For those who cycle, understanding this distribution means knowing how your body is transferring energy to the bike.
It is important to note that this type of analysis helps to identify muscle imbalances, overloads in certain areas of the foot and even asymmetries that directly impact performance and comfort.
Why Use Plantar Pressure Data Analysis in Your Training
Another important point to consider is that, with the correct analysis of plantar pressure data, you can make simple adjustments, such as changing the position of the shoe or the type of insole, that generate great gains in stability and power.
In addition, this analysis allows you to personalize your training, better understanding how your body behaves at different intensities and terrains.
And best of all: you can do this on your own, using accessible tools.
Tools You’ll Need
To perform your analysis, you basically need:
- A plantar pressure sensor (such as F-Scan, Pedar, or similar)
- A CSV file generated by this sensor
- Microsoft Excel (version with Power Pivot enabled)
- Power BI Desktop (free)
It’s also worth noting that it’s useful to have basic knowledge of pivot tables and graphs, but even if you don’t, we’ll guide you clearly.
Let’s Explore the Detailed Step-by-Step Now
1. Download the Example Dataset
So that you can follow everything in practice, we’ve prepared a dataset with simulated real data from a pedal. You can download the file directly through the link below:
[Access the example dataset for practice]
No registration required. Just save the .CSV file on your computer.
2. Import the CSV into Excel
- Open Excel.
- Go to Data > Get Data > From File > From Text/CSV
- Choose the file and confirm.
To better understand, let’s look at an example: the imported table will contain columns such as time, X and Y position, and pressure value per sensor. This is the basis for all your graphs and analyses.
3. Organize with PivotTable
- Select the imported data.
- Go to Insert > PivotTable.
- Create filters by sensor, time or foot region.
- Add sums and averages to observe patterns.
This helps to visualize which areas are suffering the greatest impact during cycling.
4. Create Heat Charts in Excel
- Use conditional formatting in a matrix to simulate a plantar heat map.
- Assign colors to cells based on pressure level.
This type of chart is perfect for identifying points of overload and asymmetry.
5. Take the Analysis to Power BI
- Import the same CSV into Power BI.
- Use the matrix + heat map visualization to create a dashboard.
- Add filters by time, pedal type, or foot side (left/right).
- Use line graphs to compare sessions or workouts.
With this, you will have an interactive dashboard where you can observe your progress, detect imbalances and make smarter decisions.
Practical Examples of Visual Dashboards
- Plantar heat map by pedaling time
- Line graph with pressure peaks per session
- Comparison between left and right sides
- Filter by pedal type (climbing, sprinting, endurance)
These visualizations are powerful allies for fine-tuning your bike fit or understanding where you are losing efficiency.
How to Interpret Plantar Pressure Data
After creating the dashboards, a common question arises: what exactly does this data mean?
To better understand, let’s look at some points that deserve your attention:
- Areas with a greater concentration of color on the heat map indicate overload. These regions should be analyzed carefully, especially if they coincide with discomfort while pedaling.
- Visible asymmetries between the left and right foot are signs of bodily compensations, which can lead to pain in the knees, hips or back.
- Pressure spikes at specific moments during training, such as sprints or climbs, show how your body is reacting under load.
Correctly interpreting these patterns helps you make decisions such as changing the position of your shoe, adjusting your saddle or even changing your pedaling cadence.
How to Integrate the Analysis with Your Bike Fit
Another important point to consider is that plantar pressure data is an excellent ally in the bike fit process. If you have ever undergone a professional adjustment, you know how much each millimeter makes a difference.
You can use the graphs to validate:
- If the new position is really distributing the load better
- If the adjustment to the shoe cleat reduced the overload points
- If there was an improvement in the balance between both feet
This integration between technology and physical adjustment enhances your results and prevents injuries caused by improper positioning.
How to Use the Data Over Time
It is also worth noting that a single test is useful, but the true value lies in monitoring over time.
Here are some practical ideas:
- Compare similar sessions, such as two hill workouts with similar intensity.
- Analyze your progress month by month.
- Observe whether changes in training reflect an improvement in symmetry or a reduction in average pressure.
This monitoring transforms plantar analysis into a tool for continuous performance monitoring and prevention.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Let’s delve a little deeper into this topic with a list of common pitfalls when using plantar pressure data:
- Ignoring consistency in testing – Changing shoes, pedals or bikes between sessions invalidates the comparison.
- Analyzing only one foot – Even if the discomfort is on one side, the problem may be on the other.
- Focusing only on pressure peaks – Average data and behavior over time are also valuable.
- Ignoring fatigue – Pedal at the same energy stage (e.g., always at the beginning of the workout) to compare more accurately.
- Not saving dashboards – Save all reports to compare in the future. That’s where the real value of analysis comes in.
Practical Tips to Improve Your Experience with Analysis
- Use the same shoe for all tests – This ensures consistency in reading the data.
- Try different types of training – Sprint, climb, high cadence… the patterns change!
- Observe both sides separately – Small asymmetries generate big differences in the long term.
- Combine with video analysis – A simple camera can help correlate movement with data.
- Review data weekly – Comparing sessions helps to understand if the adjustments are having an effect.
Conclusion
In this article, you learned how plantar pressure data analysis can transform the way you pedal. We saw how to import data, create heat graphs, build dashboards and interpret the results, all with accessible and easy-to-use tools.
The benefits are clear: more efficiency, fewer injuries and better performance control. Now, it’s time to apply this knowledge! Download the dataset, follow the step-by-step instructions and start understanding what your feet have to say about your ride today.
You don’t need to be a data scientist to take advantage of all this, you just need to take the first step. Your performance deserves this attention. And so does your health.
Explore, experiment and evolve. Your next ride starts with data.
