Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Evaluation of plantar pressure is useful for detecting functional abnormality of foot, especially in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate plantar pressure and force in diabetic patients using Tekscan F-Scan in-shoe foot force and gait analysis system.

Methods: Plantar pressure and force were measured by selecting an area of interest under the six areas of the foot: hallux, first metatarsal, second metatarsal, 3–5 metatarsal, midfoot and heel based on previous reports. 65 diabetic patients and age-matched 25 controls were enrolled. Mean age of diabetic patients was 58.4±8.2 years, diabetic duration 8.39±5.26 years, and mean HbA1c 7.7±1.3%, and female 43.1% (28/65). Of the included 65 patients, 16 had diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN), 12 had cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN), 31 were without CAN, and 18 had inconclusive tests.

Results: Contact area distribution in diabetics were higher tendency than those in controls. Maximum force distribution was different between two group nearly all areas of foot, especially second metatarsal (109.4 N in DM vs 72.2 N in control, P<0.001) and condyle (307.4 N in DM vs 236.9 N in control, P<0.001). Pressure average distribution were similar differences between two groups. Right-to-left foot unbalancing of force and pressure in diabetics were showed compared with controls.

Conclusion: Evaluation of plantar pressure is useful for diabetic foot abnormalities. Plantar force and pressure distributions in diabetics are higher than those in controls, especially, in second metatarsal and condyle area. This method may be useful to detect diabetic foot and ulcerative disease early.