The Effect of Dimple Insole Design on the Plantar Temperature and Pressure in People with Diabetes and in Healthy Individuals
Martha Zequera,
Alejandro J. Almenar-Arasanz,
Javier Alfaro-Santafé,
David Allan,
Andrés Anaya,
Mauricio Cubides,
Natalia Rodríguez,
Cesar Salazar,
Roozbeh Naemi
Affiliations
Martha Zequera
Baspi-Footlab, Electronics Department, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Avenida Carrera 7 41-20, Bogotá 11023, Colombia
Alejandro J. Almenar-Arasanz
Department of Research & Innovation, Podoactiva, Technology Park Walqa, Huesca, Ctra N 330 a Km 566, 22197 Cuarte, Huesca, Spain
Javier Alfaro-Santafé
Department of Research & Innovation, Podoactiva, Technology Park Walqa, Huesca, Ctra N 330 a Km 566, 22197 Cuarte, Huesca, Spain
David Allan
School of Sport, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ulster, 2-24 York Street, Belfast BT15 1AP, UK
Andrés Anaya
Baspi-Footlab, Electronics Department, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Avenida Carrera 7 41-20, Bogotá 11023, Colombia
Mauricio Cubides
Baspi-Footlab, Electronics Department, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Avenida Carrera 7 41-20, Bogotá 11023, Colombia
Natalia Rodríguez
Baspi-Footlab, Electronics Department, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Avenida Carrera 7 41-20, Bogotá 11023, Colombia
Cesar Salazar
Baspi-Footlab, Electronics Department, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Avenida Carrera 7 41-20, Bogotá 11023, Colombia
Roozbeh Naemi
Centre for Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Technologies, School of Health Science and Wellbeing, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF, UK
An increase in plantar pressure and skin temperature is commonly associated with an increased risk of diabetic foot ulcers. However, the effect of insoles in reducing plantar temperature has not been commonly studied. The aim was to assess the effect of walking in insoles with different features on plantar temperature. Twenty-six (F/M:18/8) participants—13 with diabetes and 13 healthy, aged 55.67 ± 9.58 years—participated in this study. Skin temperature at seven plantar regions was measured using a thermal camera and reported as the difference between the temperature after walking with an insole for 20 m versus the baseline temperature. The mixed analyses of variance indicated substantial main effects for the Insole Condition, for both the right [Wilks’ Lambda = 0.790, F(14, 492) = 4.393, p p p p < 0.000, Partial eta-squared = 0.140]. This can have important practical implications for designing insoles with a view to decrease foot complications in people with diabetes.
