THE USE OF RUNNING SHOES TO REDUCE PLANTAR PRESSURES IN PATIENTS WHO HAVE DIABETES

We compared the plantar pressures generated by walking in leather-sole d Oxford-style shoes and by walking in inexpensive running shoes with those generated by walking in thin socks on a hard surface for thirty- nine individuals (thirteen who had diabetes and neuropathy, thirteen w ho had diabetes without neuropathy, and thirteen who had neither diabe tes nor neuropathy [controls]). Except for two anatomical regions, the plantar pressures associated with the Oxford-style shoes were not dif ferent from those associated with walking without shoes, In comparison , the inexpensive running shoes relieved plantar pressures in the fore foot and heel by a mean (and standard deviation) of 31 +/- 9.1 per cen t, with the most relief occurring in the feet that had the highest pre ssures when they were unshod, There were significant reductions in pre ssure in all regions of the foot except for the midfoot (p < 0.01), an d there were no significant differences between the groups. Individual s who have insensate feet should be discouraged from wearing leather-s oled Oxford-style shoes because of the risk of ulceration due to eleva ted plantar pressures, Inexpensive running shoes should be viewed as t he very minimally acceptable choice for footwear for these individuals if the feet are free of deformity.