Use of custom insoles for redistributing plantar pressure, decreasing musculoskeletal pain and reducing postural changes in obese adults

Insole-Based Systems for Health Monitoring: Current Solutions and Research Challenges

Wearable health monitoring devices allow for measuring physiological parameters without restricting individuals' daily activities, providing information that is reflective of an individual's health and well-being. However, these systems need to be accurate, power-efficient, unobtrusive and simple to use to enable a reliable, convenient, automatic and ubiquitous means of long-term health monitoring. One such system can be embedded in an insole to obtain physiological data from the plantar aspect of the foot that can be analyzed to gain insight into an individual's health. This manuscript provides a comprehensive review of insole-based sensor systems that measure a variety of parameters useful for overall health monitoring, with a focus on insole-based PPD measurement systems developed in recent years. Existing solutions are reviewed, and several open issues are presented and discussed. The concept of a fully integrated insole-based health monitoring system and considerations for future work are described. By developing a system that is capable of measuring parameters such as PPD, gait characteristics, foot temperature and heart rate, a holistic understanding of an individual's health and well-being can be obtained without interrupting day-to-day activities. The proposed device can have a multitude of applications, such as for pathology detection, tracking medical conditions and analyzing gait characteristics.

Análise do equilíbrio postural estático e da intensidade das dores musculoesqueléticas após o uso de palmilhas proprioceptivas por militares do serviço ostensivo

RESUMO Para a manutenção do equilíbrio, o organismo utiliza os sistemas visuais, vestibulares e proprioceptivos, que enviam informações para o sistema nervoso central acerca das condições do corpo com o objetivo de estabilizá-lo. Este estudo avaliou o efeito das palmilhas proprioceptivas sobre o equilíbrio postural estático e as dores musculoesqueléticas após dois meses de uso, por meio de uma pesquisa analítica longitudinal com 15 militares saudáveis do sexo masculino com média de idade de 34±7,5 anos. Eles foram submetidos à avaliação do equilíbrio por meio da plataforma Medicapteurs® e pelo protocolo CNT. Não houve diferença estatística para os desvios do corpo e velocidade do centro de pressão. A pressão plantar teve mudança estatisticamente significante para o pé esquerdo e o pé direito correspondendo a p=0,0001 e p=0,0007, respectivamente. Houve redução das médias de dores nos joelhos, pés e calcanhares e diminuição significativa da dor lombar, com p=0,0180. O equilíbrio estático não foi alterado significativamente com o uso das palmilhas proprioceptivas pelos militares, contudo elas proporcionaram melhor redistribuição das pressões plantares e parecem atenuar as dores musculoesqueléticas das extremidades inferiores. Por isso as palmilhas podem ser consideradas para esse grupo uma terapêutica de prevenção contra lesões relacionadas à sua atividade laboral.

Idiopathic scoliosis: Static analysis of the influence of shim use on postural angles

Abstract Introduction: Scoliosis is characterized as a three-dimensional deformity. In this scenario, the use of shims can promote correction of postural imbalances. Objective: To verify the static changes associated with unilateral manipulation of shims in idiopathic scoliosis. Methods: Two experimental groups composed of participants with scoliosis with double and single curves, and a control group of participants without scoliosis. 10 reflective markers were used, filmed for 15 seconds in the static position in three conditions (no shim; low shim of 1 cm, and high shim of 3 cm) on the right and left foot. The following postural angles were calculated: alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, and alpha 4. Results: There were differences in the shim condition between the control group (CG) and experimental scoliosis with “S” (GES) for alpha 2 and 4 and Scoliosis “C” (GEC) for alpha 2. For shims under the right foot, there were differences between the control group and GES for alpha 4 and the GEC for alpha 1, 2 and 4, and between shims for the GES for alpha 3 and 4. Shims under the left foot were responsible for significant differences between the control group and the GES and GEC groups. Conclusion: These static postural changes indicate that scoliosis curves show adaptability and postural reorganization in response to manipulation with shims, and the greatest influence is seen in the lower segments, both in simple and double curves. According to the results it is concluded that residual scoliotic curvatures have flexibility that allows postural adjustment with shims.