Morphofunctional muscle changes influence on foot stability in multiple sclerosis during gait prediction: The rehabilitation potential

Analysis of Lower Extremity Motor Capacity and Foot Plantar Pressure in Overweight and Obese Elderly Women

BACKGROUND

Overweight, obesity and falls are major public health problems and old people are the biggest group suffering falls.

METHODS

92 females were divided into the overweight or obesity (O) group (68.85 ± 3.85) and regular-weight (R) group (67.90 ± 4.02). Lower extremity motor capacity and plantar pressure were compared between the two groups. The IRB approval number is 20190804.

RESULTS

(1) Functional Movement Screen and Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores in the O group were significantly lower than in the R group. The time to complete the Timed Up and Go test in the O group was significantly longer than in the R group. (2) Foot flat phase, double support distance, and left foot axis angle in the O group were significantly higher than in the R group. Distance and velocity, left-foot minimum subtalar joint angle and right-foot maximum subtalar joint angle in the O group were significantly shorter than in the R group. (3) Peak force, average force and pressure of metatarsal 1-4, mid-foot, heel medial and lateral, peak pressure of metatarsal l, midfoot, heel medial and lateral in the O group were significantly higher than in the R group. (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight and obese elderly women have a lower sensorimotor function, flexibility and stability in functional movements, but higher loads on the foot.

Use of 3D-Printed Heel Support Insoles Based on Arch Lift Improves Foot Pressure Distribution in Healthy People

Background

3D-printed insoles are widely used. This study was conducted to test a customized three-dimensional (3D)-printed heel support insole based on arch lift and to investigate whether the pressure distribution on the sole was improved while maintaining foot function.

Material/Methods

The design was based on a 3D plantar contour scanning modeling technique. Thirty healthy male participants walked along a 10-m track under 3 self-controlled interventions. A customized 3D-printed heel support insole based on arch lift was inserted into the socks for the experimental condition A. For condition B, a customized 3D-printed heel-supporting insole was inserted into the socks, and a standardized pre-made heel-supporting insole was inserted into the socks as a control (condition C). We used the Footscan^® pressure plate to measure the plantar parameters in the forefoot contact and foot flange phases in each condition.

Results

Compared with condition B and the control condition, the peak pressure under the heel was significantly lower in condition A (P<0.05), and the peak pressure in the midfoot region was not significantly increased (P>0.05).

Conclusions

The biomechanical properties of the customized 3D-printed heel support are better than those of the traditional heel support insole, especially when there is a need for an additional increase in heel height. Patients do not decrease midfoot motion function while using this customized insole.