Longitudinal study of foot pressures during real-world walking as infants develop from new to confident walkers.

BACKGROUND: Onset of walking in infants leads to regular cyclic loading of the plantar foot surface for the first time. This is a critical period for evolving motor skills and foot structure and function. Plantar pressure literature typically studies gait only once walking is established and under conditions that artificially constrain the walking direction and bouts compared to how infants move in the real-world. We therefore do not know how the foot is loaded when self-directed walking is first achieved and whether it changes as walking is practiced. Research question How do pressures on the plantar foot in real-world walking change from new to confident walking? Methods Fifty-seven infants participated in a two-site longitudinal study. Bespoke child-friendly spaces incorporated large pressure platforms and video. Data was collected at two milestones: new (403 days) and confident (481 days) walking. Steps were defined as walking straight or turning medially/laterally. Pressure variables were calculated for eight-foot regions and compared between milestones. Results Confident walking resulted in more steps (median: 18 v 35) and almost twice as many turning steps. During straight-line steps, confident walking increased peak pressures in the medial heel (median: 99.3 v 106.7kPa, p < .05) and lateral forefoot (median: 53.9 v 65.3kPa, p < .001) and reduced medial toe pressure (median: 98.1 v 80.0kPa, p < .05). Relative medial midfoot contact area reduced (median: 12.4 v 11.2%, p < .05) as absolute foot contact increased. A faster transition across stance and a reduced relative contact time in the forefoot were recorded in confident walking. Significance Pressures change rapidly as walking is initiated with significant differences in foot loading evident within an average 77 days. Importantly, these changes differ in straight and turning walking. Continued reliance on assessment of straight-line walking during early stages of ambulation likely fails to characterise 26% of steps experienced by infant feet.

[Indirect methods to estimate hidden population: Second part]. / Métodos indirectos para la estimación de poblaciones ocultas:Segunda parte.

"Hidden populations" are difficult to identify because they have stigmatizing or illegal characteristics. For that reason, determining their size or prevalence in certain contexts is complicated. In those populations, traditional or direct methods, as population surveys, do not usually serve for this purpose, but indirect methods, based on incomplete data sources, can be useful.This work completes the original article published in Revista Española de Salud Pública in 2017: "Indirect methods to estimate hidden populations". Different methods are exposed, showing their indications and bias. To make an estimation as real as possible it is necessary to evaluate carefully the data available and analyze the risk of bias.

Las poblaciones ocultas, aquellas difíciles de identificar por tener características estigmatizadoras o ilegales, suelen dar problemas a la hora de determinar su tamaño o prevalencia en determinados contextos. Los métodos tradicionales o directos, como las encuestas poblacionales, no suelen servir para este cometido. Los métodos indirectos, que parten de fuentes de datos incompletas para estimar la prevalencia real de la población, sí pueden ser útiles.Este trabajo completa el artículo original publicado en 2017 por Revista Española de Salud Pública sobre métodos indirectos para la estimación de poblaciones ocultas. Se exponen cuatro métodos diferentes, cada uno de los cuales tiene distintas indicaciones dependiendo de los datos de los que dispongamos y diferentes sesgos que deben valorarse detenidamente para realizar una estimación lo más cercana posible a la realidad.

Evaluation of orthotic insoles for people with diabetes who are at-risk of first ulceration.

OBJECTIVE: This study focussed on pressure relieving orthotic insoles designed for retail footwear and people with diabetes and at risk of first forefoot ulceration. The aim was to investigate whether the pressure relieving effects of a customised metatarsal bar and forefoot cushioning are sensitive to bar location and shape, and material choice. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patient-specific foot shape was used to design an orthotic insole, with metatarsal bar location and shape customised according to plantar pressure data. Changes in forefoot plantar pressure were investigated when 60 people with diabetes and neuropathy walked in nine variants of the orthotic insole. These comprised three variations in proximal/distal location of the customised metatarsal bar and three different metatarsal head offloading materials. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent reductions in pressure occurred when the anterior edge of the metatarsal bar was placed at 77% of the peak pressure values, and its effects were independent of the choice of EVA or Poron offloading material. In the flat insole, 61% of participants had one or more metatarsal head areas with pressure above the 200 KPa, reducing to 58% when adopting generic orthotic design rules and 51% when using the best orthotic insole of the nine tested. Our results confirm that plantar pressure relief is sensitive to orthotic insole design decisions and individual patient feet.

Métodos indirectos para la estimación de poblaciones ocultas: Segunda parte / Indirect methods to estimate hidden population: Second part

Las poblaciones ocultas, aquellas difíciles de identificar por tener características estigmatizadoras o ilegales, suelen dar problemas a la hora de determinar su tamaño o prevalencia en determinados contextos. Los métodos tradicionales o directos, como las encuestas poblacionales, no suelen servir para este cometido. Los métodos indirectos, que parten de fuentes de datos incompletas para estimar la prevalencia real de la población, sí pueden ser útiles. Este trabajo completa el artículo original publicado en 2017 por Revista Española de Salud Pública sobre métodos indirectos para la estimación de poblaciones ocultas. Se exponen cuatro métodos diferentes, cada uno de los cuales tiene distintas indicaciones dependiendo de los datos de los que dispongamos y diferentes sesgos que deben valorarse detenidamente para realizar una estimación lo más cercana posible a la realidad

"Hidden populations" are difficult to identify because they have stigmatizing or illegal characteristics. For that reason, determining their size or prevalence in certain contexts is complicated. In those populations, traditional or direct methods, as population surveys, do not usually serve for this purpose,but indirect methods, based on incomplete data sources, can be useful. This work completes the original article published in Revista Española de Salud Pública in 2017: "Indirect methods to estimate hidden populations". Different methods are exposed, showing their indications and bias. To make an estimation as real as possible it is necessary to evaluate carefully the data available andanalyze the risk of bias

'Trial and error ', ' happy patients' and ' an old toy in the cupboard': a qualitative investigation of factors that influence practitioners in their prescription of foot orthoses.

BACKGROUND: Foot orthoses are used to manage of a plethora of lower limb conditions. However, whilst the theoretical foundations might be relatively consistent, actual practices and therefore the experience of patients is likely to be less so. The factors that affect the prescription decisions that practitioners make about individual patients is unknown and hence the way in which clinical experience interacts with knowledge from training is not understood. Further, other influences on orthotic practice may include the adoption (or not) of technology. Hence the aim of this study was to explore, for the first time, the influences on orthotic practice. METHODS: A qualitative approach was adopted utilising two focus groups (16 consenting participants in total; 15 podiatrists and 1 orthotist) in order to collect the data. An opening question "What factors influence your orthotic practice?" was followed with trigger questions, which were used to maintain focus. The dialogue was recorded digitally, transcribed verbatim and a thematic framework was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: There were five themes: (i) influences on current practice, (ii) components of current practice, (iii) barriers to technology being used in clinical practice, (iv) how technology could enhance foot orthoses prescription and measurement of outcomes, and (v) how technology could provide information for practitioners and patients. A final global theme was agreed by the researchers and the participants: 'Current orthotic practice is variable and does not embrace technology as it is perceived as being not fit for purpose in the clinical environment. However, practitioners do have a desire for technology that is usable and enhances patient focussed assessment, the interventions, the clinical outcomes and the patient's engagement throughout these processes'. CONCLUSIONS: In relation to prescribing foot orthoses, practice varies considerably due to multiple influences. Measurement of outcomes from orthotic practice is a priority but there are no current norms for achieving this. There have been attempts by practitioners to integrate technology into their practice, but with largely negative experiences. The process of technology development needs to improve and have a more practice, rather than technology focus.