Significance of Plantar Pressure Balance and Gait Stability in Early Prevention and Cure of Diabetic Foot

Objective To explore the clinical significance of plantar pressure equilibrium and gait stability in early prevention and treatment of diabetic foot(DF).Methods Forty-two DF patients(Wanger classification=0) were divided randomly into groups therapy and control,21 in each.Belgian-footscan plantar pressure gait detection system was used to monitor dynamical plantar pressure and static impulse in 2 groups,and then made personalized programs to balance plantar pressure based on the monitoring data in therapy group.Control group received conventional treatment without personalized programs.Two groups were followed up for 1 year,to observe the plantar pressure,gait stability curve,incidence of foot ulcers,impulse before and after treatment.Results No significant difference in plantar pressure between 2 groups before treatment(P0.05).After 1 year of treatment,the pretreatment pressures of the 3rd,4th,5th metatarsal base of control group were higher than those in control group before treatment and those in therapy group after treatment,the differences were significant(P0.05).There was no significant difference in plantar pressure in therapy group between post-and pre-treatments(P0.05).After treatment,the gait balance curve fluctuated remarkably and gravity pressure distribution curve was a little short of smoothness(namely gait stability was not good) in control group,while in therapy group no obvious fluctuation was noted,the plantar pressure distribution was balanced.The incidences of foot ulcers were 42.9%(9/21) in control group,14.3%(3/21) in therapy group,the difference was significant(P0.05).There was significant difference in the proportion of impulse65%(42.9%(9/21) vs.14.3%(3/21)) between control group and therapy group(P0.05).Conclusion Plantar pressure change is one of the important causes of diabetic foot ulcers.Early detection and evaluation of plantar pressure of diabetic patients is very important,and positive and effective measures to balance plantar pressure can reduce incidence of foot ulcers,to decrease amputation rate from source to guarantee the quality of life of diabetes patients.