Dynamic pressures on the diabetic foot

A retrospective study was conducted in order to investigate the relation be tween increased plantar pressure and ulcers in the diabetic foot and contri bute more information on this subject. Maximal plantar pressure (MPP) is re ported on various areas of the plantar aspects of the feet in 328 diabetic patients and 75 healthy subjects. An increase in MPP under all plantar area s except for the heels was found to be related with increasing severity of the diabetes symptoms. There was also a significant decrease in the applica tion of high pressures to the heels, the metatarsal heads II-IV and the toe s.