Measurement of Dynamic Pressures at the Shoe-Foot Interface During Normal Walking with Various Foot Orthoses Using the FSCAN System

Abstract

Foot orthoses are routinely used in clinical practice to redistribute pressure at the shoe-foot interface, although there is very little scientific evidence to support the efficacy of their use. In this study, the FSCAN sensor (an ultrathin in-shoe transducer) was used to determine the efficacy of pressure redistribution with a Plastizote, Spenco, cork, and a plastic foot orthosis as compared with control (no orthosis). Measurement variations of up to 18% occurred between sensors, and changes in stance time of up to 5% occurred between the orthoses and the control conditions. In spite of these potentially confounding variables, statistically significant differences in peak pressure between the orthotic types and the control condition (range, 9–146%) were noted. We conclude that Plastizote, cork, and plastic foot orthoses can be beneficial in relieving pressure in certain regions of the shoe-foot interface, but that they may do so at the cost of increasing pressure in other areas of the plantar surface.