Effects of preventative footwear on foot pressure as determined by pedobarography in diabetic patients: a prospective study.

Full Abstract

AIMS: This study analysed the effects of specially manufactured insoles on foot pressures in diabetic patients during a 1-year prospective observation period. METHODS: We studied 81 type 2 diabetic patients without foot lesions. Using pedobarography three different regions of interest were examined: maximum peak pressure (MPP) of the total foot area, heel region and head of metatarsal bone I-III. Eighteen patients with high risk pressure (MPP of total foot 474 +/- 183 kPa; heel region 278 +/- 147 kPa, metatarsal 389 +/- 222 kPa) received optimal insole support. Sixty-three patients as a control group (MMP of total foot 367.7 +/- 157 kPa; heel 263.1 +/- 127 kPa, metatarsal 339.9 +/- 171 kPa) received conventional footwear. RESULTS: After insole support a 30% pressure reduction of total foot MMP (474 +/- 183 kPa vs. 290 +/- 106 kPa) was achieved in the treatment group. After 6 months (324 +/- 127 kPa) and 1 year (380 +/- 190 kPa) a pressure reduction was found. Between the 6- and 12-month controls plantar pressures again increased. In the control group a significant increase of all peak pressures occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Early insole support is successful in reducing plantar pressure. A repeated adjustment should be performed every 6 months to prevent foot pressure increases. The comparison of foot pressure development between the two groups showed constant levels in the treatment group. In the control group a marked increase of the pressure values was found. Identification and subsequent support of patients with high ulceration risk may help to reduce the high amputation rate.

Author information

Author/s: Lobmann, R (R); Kayser, R (R); Kasten, G (G); Kasten, U (U); Kluge, K (K); Neumann, W (W); Lehnert, H (H);

Affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University Medical School of Magdeburg, Germany.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article

Journal: Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association (Diabet Med), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2001-Apr; vol 18 (issue 4) : pp 314-9

Dates: Created 2001/07/04; Completed 2001/08/30; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 11437863, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.