ARCH FILLED INSOLES FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTING BALANCE

A study by the Balance Enhancement Ulcer Prevention (BEUP) research group, led by Dr. Joanne Paton, Podiatrist and Research Fellow of the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), found that insole designs containing an arch fill generated increased body sway and reduced balance when the wearer was standing still, while those without an arch fill did not. The study was carried out to explore whether different insoles affected balance in people with diabetes. Lack of balance is a major problem for older people with diabetes, a third of whom fall each year – rising to half for those with prior foot ulceration.
 
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Dr. Joanne Paton
 
 
The results of Dr. Paton’s analysis also contradict previous suggestions that soft insole materials shield the sense of awareness under the soles of the feet required to help maintain balance, and therefore appear safe for people with diabetes to wear. Entitled "Getting the right balance: Insole design alters the static balance of people with diabetes and neuropathy," Dr. Paton’s study forms part of a five-year research program funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) to develop and test a novel dual purpose insole that both enhances balance and reduces foot ulcer risk in people with diabetes.
 
Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News.
 
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