《Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice》 ›› 2021, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (7): 852-858.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2021.07.019

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Plantar Pressure and Offloading Insole Structure for Diabetic Patients: A Finite Element Analysis

CAO Zi-jun1,2,WANG Fang1,2(),HE Yao-guang1,2,ZHANG Yu1,2,WANG Meng-xiu1,2,ZHANG Jian-guo1,2()   

  1. 1. College of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300222, China
    2. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Integrated Design and Online Monitoring of Light Industry and Food Machinery and Equipment, Tianjin 300222, China
  • Received:2020-12-04 Revised:2021-05-24 Published:2021-07-25 Online:2021-07-28
  • Contact: WANG Fang,ZHANG Jian-guo E-mail:fwang@tust.edu.cn;jg-zh@tust.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Tianjin Enterprise Science and Technology Commissioner Project(18JCTPJC57600);Fundamental Research Funds for Tianjin Universities(2017KDYB21)

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the plantar pressure features of diabetic patients, and design the offloading structure of insole to reduce the plantar pressure and internal stress of the soft tissue.

Methods A three-dimensional finite element model of foot was established based on CT images. Hole structure was designed in the high plantar pressure area of diabetic patients. The effects of diameter, depth and interval of holes on plantar pressure was analyzed through orthogonal test and finite element analysis, to obtain the optimal scheme; and the offloading effect was analyzed with finite element analysis and experiment.

Results The peak plantar pressure was higher in diabetic patients than in healthy individuals. The holes with 5 mm diameter, 6 mm depth and 2 mm interval in metatarsal and calcaneus regions might effectively reduce the plantar pressure and internal stress of soft tissue, which was 15.6%, 45.6%, 53.5% and 10.1% less of the peak plantar pressure on toes, metatarsal, midfoot and calcaneus area, respectively, compared to walking without insoles.

Conclusion Finite element analysis is helpful to explore the internal stress of soft tissue in diabetic patients, and insole with hole structure can reduce the plantar pressure and internal stress of soft tissue.

Key words: diabetes mellitus, plantar pressure, offloading insole, finite element, porous structure, total contact insole

CLC Number: