Effective and clinically relevant optimisation of cushioning stiffness to maximise the offloading capacity of diabetic footwear
Authors' conclusion
Increased plantar loading is associated with the need for stiffer cushioning materials for maximum offloading. Patient-specific optimum cushioning stiffness can be predicted using five simple demographic/anthropometric parameters. These results open the way for methods to optimise cushioning stiffness as part of clinical practice.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with DM and loss of protective sensation in their feet
- Participants
- 69 adults
- Exposure
- Cushioning footbeds of varying stiffness vs neutral diabetic shoe
- Outcome
- Prediction of optimum cushioning stiffness (maximum offloading) from demographic/anthropometric parameters
Methodological detailsobservational, In-shoe plantar pressure measured using Pedar®
- Observational
- In-shoe plantar pressure measured using Pedar®
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Correct prediction of cushioning stiffness minimising peak pressure, using sex, age, weight, height and shoe-size
Entire foot: participants correctly predicted
70%
Metatarsal heads: participants correctly predicted
72%
Midfoot: participants correctly predicted
83%
Heel: participants correctly predicted
66%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Effective and clinically relevant optimisation of cushioning stiffness to maximise the offloading capacity of diabetic footwear. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 22 September 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →