Influence of Different Hardness Custom Foot Insoles in the Electromyography Activity Patterns of the Thigh and Hip Muscles during Motorcycling Sport: A Crossover Study

Effects of three-dimensional image based insole for healthy volunteers: a pilot clinical trial

Insoles are used to treat various foot diseases, including plantar foot, diabetic foot ulcers, and refractory plantar fasciitis. In this study, we investigated the effects of 3-dimensional image-based (3-D) insole in healthy volunteers with no foot diseases. Additionally, the comfort of the 3-D insole was compared with that of a custom-molded insole. A single-center, randomized, open clinical trial was conducted to address the effectiveness of insole use in a healthy population with no foot or knee disease. Two types of arch support insoles were evaluated for their effectiveness: a 3-D insole and a custom-molded insole. Fifty Korean volunteers participated in the study and were randomly allocated into the "3-D insole" (n = 40) or "custom-molding insole" (n = 10) groups. All subjects wore 3-D insoles or custom-molded insoles for 2 weeks. The sense of wearing shoes (Visual Analog Scale [VAS] and score) and fatigue of the foot were used to assess the insole effects at the end of the 2-week study period. The 3-D insole groups showed significantly improved sense of wearing shoes (VAS, p = 0.0001; score, p = 0.0002) and foot fatigue (p = 0.0005) throughout the study period. Although the number of subjects was different, the custom-molding insole group showed no significant changes in the sense of wearing shoes (VAS, 0.1188; score, p = 0.1483). Foot fatigue in the 3-D insole group improved significantly (p = 0.0005), which shows that a 3-D insole might have favorable effects on foot health in a healthy population.

Trial Registration

Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0008100.

Effectiveness of Custom Foot Insoles to Decrease Plantar Pressure: A Cross-over Randomized Trial Study

Background: Harderness insoles decrease plantar pressure and reduce the foot injury incidence in sport. The purpose of our study was to analyze the plantar pressure variation in moto riders after riding in a real speed circuit with a custom foot 52⁰ Shore EVA insole. Methods: A crossover randomized trial study was performed (consent no. #050520165316). Riders were assessed by an expert motorsport senior podiatry. The participants’ mean age was 35 ± 3.29. Participants completed a 20 min training riding with their own motorcycle in a real speed circuit. Plantar pressures were registered with a baropodometric platform evaluating an Ethyl Vinyl Acetate custom foot insole (CFI) manufactured with 3 mm thickness and 52° Shore A hardness. The Plantar pressures were registered before riding, after riding without EVA insole, and after riding with EVA insole. Results: Total Plantar pressures in right and left foot, and total surface area decrease after riding with EVA insoles. Conclusion: The use of an EVA insole with 52⁰ shore A hardness riding on a motorcycle in speed circuit decreased the total plantar pressures and surface areas values.