Immediate Effects of Using Insoles With Various Wedges on Plantar Pressure Measurements and Comfort Level During Marching

Abstract

Background: Orthotic devices like insoles are widely used to improve performance. This study investigated whether immediate effects of using insoles with various wedges influence on plantar pressure measurements and comfort level during marching.Methods: Twenty five able-bodied males participated in this study voluntarily. Repeated measures analysis of variance test with a Bonferroni correction (P<0.0014) was used to compare dependent variables among nine insole wedge conditions.Results: The result of present study showed that the comfort level was non-significantly higher in the anterior and medial wedges compared to the posterior-lateral and anterior-lateral wedges during marching (P>0.0014). The peak of plantar pressure and impulse in the first to third metatarsal regions decreased in the anterior, medial and anterior-medial wedges compared to the lateral and posterior-lateral wedges (P<0.0014). In addition, a significant negative relation between the comfort level and plantar pressure measurements was observed in the second and third metatarsals and midfoot regions during marching (P<0.05).Conclusion: It seems that using anterior, medial and anterior-medial wedge for insole may have some advantage through increasing comfort sense and decreasing the risk of stress fracture injuries in the second and third metatarsal regions. These findings should be considered during designation of shoes or insoles for military environments.

Pressure-Reducing Design of 3D-Printed Diabetic Shoe Midsole Utilizing Auxetic Lattice Structure

“…Its exceptional plantar pressure reduction and conformity characteristics make it a valuable tool for preventing pressure ulcers in diabetic patients during physical activities. Moreover, this lattice structure has applications in specialized footwear such as military boots designed for prolonged walking [54,55], protective shoes for the aged [56], and therapeutic shoes for alleviating chronic metatarsalgia [57,58]. With the advancement of parametric design and additive manufacturing, 3D printing technology is not just a tool but a game-changer.…”

Efficacy of auxetic lattice structured shoe sole in advancing footwear comfort—From the perspective of plantar pressure and contact area

“…Mei et al revealed that the measurements of peak plantar pressures (PPPs), in the first metatarsal head, medial midfoot, and hindfoot regions, are closely related to the comfort of the footwear in long-distance running tests ( 19 ). A study on the role of insoles with various wedges during marching revealed a negative correlation between PPP, in second and third metatarsal head, and the midfoot regions, and perceived plantar comfort ( 20 ). However, some studies have shown that the impact of PPPs on the assessment of footwear comfort is minimal ( 21 , 22 ) or even nonexistent ( 23 , 24 ).…”