Plantar pressure distribution in forefoot relief ortheses

Purpose: Differences in weight bearing using forefoot relief ortheses avail able on the German market. Methods: Six different forefoot relief shoes wer e tested. All ten probands wearing the same shoe-size, had a physiological foot anatomy and a normal gait. Contact time, contact area, maximum pressur e and the pressure-time integral were assessed in six different areas of th e sole. We used the dynamic device Fast SCAN by MEGA-SCAN placing the senso r inside the orthesis. Results: A reduction of the pressure underneath the forefoot was seen with all sample shoes. In particular 3 types showed favou rable parameters. The Metasan walking aid keeping the forefoot hanging free , reduced the pressure to almost zero compared to barefoot walking. The For efoot relief orthesis with protective shield - also not supporting the fore foot - permitted a reduction down to 20% of the barefoot pressure. The Fore foot relief orthesis Dr. L. S. Barouk is reducing the pressure to 20% as we ll, allows a safer gait by lifting the front parts of the foot. Concerning the gait line remarkable differences between the shoe-types are seen. In al l samples the front tipping edge of the shoe was free of peak loading. Conc lusions: The shoes tested do reduce the pressure under the toes and under t he metatarsals. They are not suitable for the postoperative care of proxima l metatarsal or tarsometatarsal osteotomies.