Reduction of peak pressure on the forefoot with a rigid rocker-bottom postoperative shoe

An ideal postoperative shoe should be comfortable to wear and protect the f oot during recovery from surgery or injury. Protection is assumed to be rel ated to peak pressure and force-time integral under the foot. This study co mpared a commonly used postoperative shoe with a new postoperative shoe tha t incorporates a rigid sole with an 11 degrees rocker bottom. The now posto perative shoe significantly reduced peak pressures on the forefoot by 20%. The amount of pressure and force-time integral reduction is compared with o ther values found in the literature for various shoe modifications. Indicat ions for rocker-bottom shoes are also explored.