Efficacy of multilayered hosiery in reducing in-shoe plantar foot pressure in hi

[Guest guest]

Dear ers,

Thought I'd post this even though it is a study done on diabetic

persons, but we too must be careful with foot ulcers/wounds, and

socks are an issue. ~ Gretchen

Diabetes Care. 2005 Aug;28(8):2001-6.

Efficacy of multilayered hosiery in reducing in-shoe plantar foot

pressure in high-risk patients with diabetes.

Garrow AP, van Schie CH, Boulton AJ.

Diabetes Foot Clinic, Disablement Services Centre, Withington

Hospital, Cavendish Road, Manchester M20 1LB, U.K.

OBJECTIVE: High plantar pressure is an acknowledged risk factor in

the development of plantar ulcers in the diabetic neuropathic foot.

This study examines the ability of preventive foot care (PFC) socks

to reduce plantar foot pressures in a sample of high-risk patients

with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with established

peripheral neuropathy attending a complications clinic of the

Manchester Diabetes Centre were recruited to the study. Fifteen (78%)

of the patients were male, 40-80 years of age, and ulcer-free at the

time of recruitment. In-shoe plantar pressure measurements were

recorded using the F-Scan and compared PFC socks with ordinary

supermarket socks. The analysis measured differences in maximum foot

contact area and plantar pressure for the whole foot, forefoot, and

peak plantar pressure areas.

RESULTS: The results showed a significant increase in maximum foot

contact area of 11 cm(2) (95% CI 7-11) when subjects wore the PFC

socks (P < 0.01). This was accompanied by 5.4 kPa (3.5-7.3) or 9%

reduction in total foot pressure (P < 0.01). Similar results were

observed at the forefoot, which showed a 14.2% increase in contact

area and a 10.2% reduction in peak forefoot pressure.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the wearing of PFC socks

increases the underfoot contact area and hence decreases plantar foot

pressures. Further studies are required to determine whether the

pressure and friction reductions achieved by this simple intervention

would be effective in reducing the incidence of foot ulcers in high-

risk patients.