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IntroductionDesigning footwear for comfort is vital for preventing foot injuries and promoting foot health. This study explores the impact of auxetic structured shoe soles on plantar biomechanics and comfort, motivated by the integration of 3D printing in footwear production and the superior mechanical properties of auxetic designs. The shoe sole designs proposed in this study are based on a three-dimensional re-entrant auxetic lattice structure, orthogonally composed of re-entrant hexagonal honeycombs with internal angles less than 90 degrees. Materials fabricated using this lattice structure exhibit the characteristic of a negative Poisson's ratio, displaying lateral expansion under tension and densification under compression.MethodsThe study conducted a comparative experiment among three different lattice structured (auxetic 60°, auxetic 75° and non-auxetic 90°) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) shoe soles and conventional polyurethane (PU) shoe sole through pedobarographic measurements and comfort rating under walking and running conditions. The study obtained peak plantar pressures (PPPs) and contact area across seven plantar regions of each shoe sole and analyzed the correlation between these biomechanical parameters and subjective comfort.ResultsCompared to non-auxetic shoe soles, auxetic structured shoe soles reduced PPPs across various foot regions and increased contact area. The Auxetic 60°, which had the highest comfort ratings, significantly lowered peak pressures and increased contact area compared to PU shoe sole. Correlation analysis showed that peak pressures in specific foot regions (hallux, second metatarsal head, and hindfoot when walking; second metatarsal head, third to fifth metatarsal head, midfoot, and hindfoot when running) were related to comfort. Furthermore, the contact area in all foot regions was significantly associated with comfort, regardless of the motion states.ConclusionThe pressure-relief performance and conformability of the auxetic lattice structure in the shoe sole contribute to enhancing footwear comfort. The insights provided guide designers in developing footwear focused on foot health and comfort using auxetic structures.

Background. Keller's arthroplasty, arthrodesis and cheilectomy are well-known surgical interventions for hallux rigidus. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of these surgical interventions on gait, plantar pressure distribution and clinical outcome in patients treated for hallux rigidus 22 years after surgery. Methods. Spatio-temporal gait parameters and plantar pressure distribution, determined as pressure time integrals (PTIs) and peak pressures (PPs), were analyzed using a 7-foot tone analysis model. Patient-reported outcome was assessed using the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ). Of the 73 patients (89 feet) from the original study, 27 patients (33 feet) and 13 healthy controls (26 feet) were available for evaluation 22 years after hallux rigidus surgery. Results. Spatio-temporal gait parameters were comparable between all groups and were in line with healthy controls (P >0.05). No differences (P >0.05) in PTIs and PPs were found in the seven plantar zones between groups and as compared to healthy controls. MOXFQ scores in all domains (walking/standing, range 21.4-24.1; pain, range 16.5-22.2 and social interaction, range 23.8-35.4) were not clinically and statistically different (P >0:05) between the three different surgical interventions. Conclusion. These results suggest no long-term functional and biomechanical differences after these surgical interventions for hallux rigidus correction. The interventions seem to be appropriate treatment options for a selective group of patients with symptomatic hallux rigidus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neglected congenital clubfoot (NCCF) is a birth deformity that remains untreated until the child begins to walk. Irrespective of the treatment protocols employed, children with NCCF face an elevated risk of recurrence following the initial correction. Predicting this recurrence could enable early intervention for high-risk children, ultimately diminishing the likelihood of invasive surgery. Methods: From January 2006 to January 2022, a total of 33 unilateral NCCF patients were enrolled in this study at Xijing Hospital. Pedobarographic tests were performed at three distinct time points: after the initial Ponseti treatment, before recurrence treatment, and after recurrence treatment. Four derivative parameters were developed for predicting recurrence, namely the difference of the contact time% (DCT%), difference of the contact area% (DCA%), difference of the peak pressure (DPP), and difference of the pressure-time integral (DPTI) between the two feet. ROC curves, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Cox regression were employed to identify potential prognostic factors. Results: Out of the 33 unilateral NCCF patients, recurrence occurred in 8 individuals, with an average follow-up period of 109.8 months. The predictive parameter for recurrence is the midfoot (MF) zone's DCT% (MF-DCT%). When the contact time (CT)% of the affected side was 20.69% higher than that of the unaffected side, the hazard ratio (HR) of recurrence increased by 7.404 times. Another predictive plantar pressure parameter is the DPP in the MF zone (MF-DPP). If the PP of the affected side was 159% higher than that of the unaffected side, the HR of recurrence increased by 9.229 times. The MF-DCT% and MF-DPP of recurrence patients were assessed at three time points for comparisons, further validating their predictive ability for recurrence. Conclusion: Although satisfactory clinical outcomes were achieved in patients with unilateral NCCF after the initial Ponseti treatment, the plantar pressure distribution does not return to normal levels, which may indicate future recurrence. DCT% and DPP in the MF zone can be used as plantar pressure predictors of recurrence in patients with NCCF.

Background Keller’s arthroplasty, arthrodesis and cheilectomy are well-known surgical interventions for hallux rigidus. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of these surgical interventions on gait, plantar pressure distribution and clinical outcome in patients treated for hallux rigidus 22 years after surgery. Methods Spatio-temporal gait parameters and plantar pressure distribution, determined as pressure time integrals (PTIs) and peak pressures (PPs), were analyzed using a 7-foot tone analysis model. Patient-reported outcome was assessed using the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ). Of the 73 patients (89 feet) from the original study, 27 patients (33 feet) and 13 healthy controls (26 feet) were available for evaluation 22 years after hallux rigidus surgery. Results Spatio-temporal gait parameters were comparable between all groups and were in line with healthy controls (P > 0.05). No differences (P > 0.05) in PTIs and PPs were found in the seven plantar zones between groups and as compared to healthy controls. MOXFQ scores in all domains (walking/standing, range 21.4–24.1; pain, range 16.5–22.2 and social interaction, range 23.8–35.4) were not clinically and statistically different (P > 0.05) between the three different surgical interventions. Conclusion These results suggest no long-term functional and biomechanical differences after these surgical interventions for hallux rigidus correction. The interventions seem to be appropriate treatment options for a selective group of patients with symptomatic hallux rigidus.

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Introduction: Designing footwear for comfort is vital for preventing foot injuries and promoting foot health. This study explores the impact of auxetic structured shoe soles on plantar biomechanics and comfort, motivated by the integration of 3D printing in footwear production and the superior mechanical properties of auxetic designs. The shoe sole designs proposed in this study are based on a three-dimensional re-entrant auxetic lattice structure, orthogonally composed of re-entrant hexagonal honeycombs with internal angles less than 90 degrees. Materials fabricated using this lattice structure exhibit the characteristic of a negative Poisson's ratio, displaying lateral expansion under tension and densification under compression., Methods: The study conducted a comparative experiment among three different lattice structured (auxetic 60°, auxetic 75° and non-auxetic 90°) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) shoe soles and conventional polyurethane (PU) shoe sole through pedobarographic measurements and comfort rating under walking and running conditions. The study obtained peak plantar pressures (PPPs) and contact area across seven plantar regions of each shoe sole and analyzed the correlation between these biomechanical parameters and subjective comfort., Results: Compared to non-auxetic shoe soles, auxetic structured shoe soles reduced PPPs across various foot regions and increased contact area. The Auxetic 60°, which had the highest comfort ratings, significantly lowered peak pressures and increased contact area compared to PU shoe sole. Correlation analysis showed that peak pressures in specific foot regions (hallux, second metatarsal head, and hindfoot when walking; second metatarsal head, third to fifth metatarsal head, midfoot, and hindfoot when running) were related to comfort. Furthermore, the contact area in all foot regions was significantly associated with comfort, regardless of the motion states., Conclusion: The pressure-relief performance and conformability of the auxetic lattice structure in the shoe sole contribute to enhancing footwear comfort. The insights provided guide designers in developing footwear focused on foot health and comfort using auxetic structures., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Lu, Yang, Liu, Guo and Wang.)

Background: Neglected congenital clubfoot (NCCF) is a birth deformity that remains untreated until the child begins to walk. Irrespective of the treatment protocols employed, children with NCCF face an elevated risk of recurrence following the initial correction. Predicting this recurrence could enable early intervention for high-risk children, ultimately diminishing the likelihood of invasive surgery., Methods: From January 2006 to January 2022, a total of 33 unilateral NCCF patients were enrolled in this study at Xijing Hospital. Pedobarographic tests were performed at three distinct time points: after the initial Ponseti treatment, before recurrence treatment, and after recurrence treatment. Four derivative parameters were developed for predicting recurrence, namely the difference of the contact time% (DCT%), difference of the contact area% (DCA%), difference of the peak pressure (DPP), and difference of the pressure-time integral (DPTI) between the two feet. ROC curves, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Cox regression were employed to identify potential prognostic factors., Results: Out of the 33 unilateral NCCF patients, recurrence occurred in 8 individuals, with an average follow-up period of 109.8 months. The predictive parameter for recurrence is the midfoot (MF) zone's DCT% (MF-DCT%). When the contact time (CT)% of the affected side was 20.69% higher than that of the unaffected side, the hazard ratio (HR) of recurrence increased by 7.404 times. Another predictive plantar pressure parameter is the DPP in the MF zone (MF-DPP). If the PP of the affected side was 159% higher than that of the unaffected side, the HR of recurrence increased by 9.229 times. The MF-DCT% and MF-DPP of recurrence patients were assessed at three time points for comparisons, further validating their predictive ability for recurrence., Conclusion: Although satisfactory clinical outcomes were achieved in patients with unilateral NCCF after the initial Ponseti treatment, the plantar pressure distribution does not return to normal levels, which may indicate future recurrence. DCT% and DPP in the MF zone can be used as plantar pressure predictors of recurrence in patients with NCCF., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Fatih Karaaslan,1 Musa Uğur Mermerkaya,1 Alper Çıraklı,2 Sinan Karaoğlu,3 Fuat Duygulu21Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Bozok University, Yozgat, Turkey; 2Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kayseri Training Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey; 3Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Memorial Kayseri Hospital, Kayseri, TurkeyIntroduction: Controversy remains regarding the optimal treatment method and postoperative rehabilitation of acute Achilles tendon ruptures. In this study, pedobarographic assessments of surgical and conservative treatments were compared.Material and methods: A prospective assessment was made of 16 patients (eight surgical, eight conservative) and eight healthy controls using a plantar pressure measurement system. Biomechanical gait parameters were obtained using the Footscan dynamic gait analysis system. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U-tests were used for the evaluation of data.Results: Nineteen males and five females were assessed, with an average age of 42.0±11.9 years. Follow-up was completed in 16 patients. No statistically significant difference was determined between the two treatment groups with regard to the gait analysis, but a difference was observed with the control group (P

Purpose: Proximal medial gastrocnemius recession (PMGR) is a surgical procedure performed in patients with gastrocnemius tightness (GT). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of pedobarographic analysis on PMGR in patients with GT and metatarsalgia.Methods: This prospective study included 52 patients diagnosed with GT treated surgically with PMGR and 49 non-operated upon patients (control group). A total of 55 PMGRs (three bilateral) were performed as an isolated or combined procedure in the treatment group. Passive ankle dorsiflexion with knee flexion and extension was evaluated in all patients. In addition, pedobarographic analysis was performed before and after surgery.Results: Median preoperative ankle dorsiflexion was -10.0° (equinus) with extended knee and 10.0° with flexed knee and postoperative differences in median ankle dorsiflexion was 12.5° (extended knee) (p = 0.000) and 5.0° (flexed knee) (p = 0.002). After the PMGR, the median area of the contact surface (-3.0 cm2) (p = 0.009), the maximum (-13,239.0 Pa) (p = 0.019) and mean pressure (-2,942.0 Pa) and the forefoot force (-70.0 N) (p = 0.000) decreased. An increase in hindfoot force (20.0 N), hindfoot bearing time (4.0 ms) (p = 0.005), and forefoot bearing time (1.0 ms) was also observed.Conclusions: Pedobarographic analysis is an efficient tool to evaluate surgical procedures that assess metatarsal overload. PMGR is an effective surgical procedure to improve passive ankle range of motion and decrease forefoot plantar overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]