Method: Thirty three normal subjects and fourteen diabetic patients were participated. Plantar peak pressures in shoes were measured by pedarⰒ during a comfortable gait wearing two types of diabetic shoes, respectively. A shoes and B shoes were used in this study. Plantar pressure was analyzed by pedar C-expert program at T0 (whole foot), M1 (heel), M2 (midfoot), M3 (1st, 2nd metatarsal area), M4 (3rd, 4th, 5th metatarsal area), M5 (great toe), M6 (2nd, 3rd toe area) and M7 (4th, 5th toe area) zones respectively.
Results: Plantar peak pressures of diabetic patients without neuropathic and ischemic symptom were not different from normal subjects. In normal subjects, plantar peak pressure of B shoes were lower than A shoes at both T0, M3 and M5 zones and left M6 and M7 zones. Plantar peak pressures of A shoes was lower than B shoes at both M2 zones. In diabetic patients plantar peak pressures of B shoes was lower than A shoes at right M4 and left M5 zones.
Conclusion: There was no sgnificant difference between plantar peak pressures of normal subjects and diabetic patients without neuproathic and ischemic symptom. B shoes were better than A shoes to reduce plantar peak pressure. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2003; 27: 433-437)
Objective: To assess the proper type of outsole for the diabetic shoes according to the hardness of outsole in diabetic patients.
Method: Seventeen diabetic patients and 33 normal control volunteers in the 5∼6th decade were participated in this study. Walking exercise in the treadmill was performed in all subjects wearing the custom-made shoes with the two layers of hard outsole and one layer of soft outsole, respectively. Peak plantar pressures were measured after exercise by Pedar system with pressure sensitive insoles inserted in each shoes and compared with two types of outsoles. The degree of oxygen saturation was measured in the fourth toe by Oxysensor and the plantar thermography were measured by infrared thermometer before and after exercise, and compared with the two types of outsoles in diabetic and control groups, respectively.
Results: There were not significant differences of peak plantar pressures in all measuring points according to the type of outsole in diabetic group. The degree of oxygen saturation in the fourth toe was not significantly changed between the two types of outsoles before and after exercise in diabetic group. The plantar temperatures were significantly increased after exercise in all groups, but there was not significant difference according to the type of outsole.
Conclusion: There was not significant difference between hard and soft outsole with the custom-made shoes for diabetic patient applied in this study. But more advanced studies about the outsole of diabetic shoe should be needed. (Korean Acad Rehab Med 2002; 26: 598-605)