ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Plantar pressure is one of the major risk factors for diabetic foot ulcers. OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of plantar pressure under natural gait in older adult patients with diabetes and compare them with those in healthy older adults, providing data for preventing foot diseases and designing foot decompression products. METHODS: The study protocol was performed in accordance with the Medical Ethics Committee of Tianjin Medical University, China. Forty-one older adult patients with diabetes and 30 healthy older adults, both aged over 60 years, received plantar pressure detection using an insole-type root pressure measurement system. Peak plantar pressure, percentage of peak time, X offset, Y offset, 95% confidence ellipse area, step frequency, step velocity, stride length, standing phase, and swing phase were measured. After fully understanding the study protocol, each participant provided written informed consent. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with healthy older adults, peak plantar pressure was significantly increased in the 2nd-4th metatarsal region, the peak time was decreased in most area of the left foot and increased in the right root heel and arch area in older adult patients with diabetes (P < 0.05). Compared with healthy older adults, standing phase was decreased, swing phase was increased, step frequency was decreased, stride length in males was increased, step velocity was increased, stride length in females was decreased, and step velocity was decreased in older adult patients with diabetes. Compared with healthy older adults, 95% confidence ellipse area was decreased, and X offset and Y offset were increased in older adult patients with diabetes. These results suggest that the stability and flexibility of older adult patients with diabetes are lower than those of healthy older adults. In older adult patients with diabetes, plantar pressure is obviously transferred from the heel to the humerus. Therefore, much attention should be paid to plantar pressure in foot care.