Pedobarography in Diagnosis and Clinical Application

Introduction: Pedobarography as a new diagnostic tool enables measuring the pressure between the foot and the floor during dynamic loading. Dynamic analysis of the foot shows advantage over static analysis due to its capabilities for detecting high load points in certain diseases and in certain phases of walking. Pedobarography as a new method in the context of rehabilitation include wide range of clinical entities. Goal: To show the advantages of pedobarography as new diagnostic and rehabilitation method in prevention programs. Material and methods: A prospective study included 100 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Research was conducted in the Primary Health Care Center of the Sarajevo Canton and the Center for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The test parameters were: Test of balance–symmetric load for the test, the number of comorbidity, clinical examination of foot deformity, test with 10 g monofilament, HbA1c. From the total sample 45 patients (Group I) were selected, aged 50-65 years, which underwent pedobarography (on the appliance Novel Inc., Munich with EMED™ platform) and robotic fabrication of individual orthopedic insoles, followed by control pedobarography. Plantar pressure was determined using standard pedobarography, computer recorded parameters: peak pressure (kPa), force (Ns), area (cm). Results: The average age of the respondents was 59.4±11.38 years; altered results on the balance test were present in 34% of patients; 61% of respondents have ≤2 comorbidity. In the total sample, the average number of foot deformity was 2.84. Flat feet have 66% of respondents, and valgus position 57%. The average HbA1c values were 7.783±1.58% (min.5–max.15.0). All subjects (45) after the first, and after the second measurement of peak pressure, have values above 200 kPa, or are in the designated zone of peak pressure that needs to be corrected. In a study was determined the correlation between the number of deformities and peak pressure, the number of deformities and the area upon which plantar pressure act, test with 10g monofilament and peak pressure. Conclusion: Within the framework of prevention programs early diagnosis, detection of sensitivity disorders, adequate treatment and taking load from the feet with the help of pedobarography, are of great importance for the patient suffering from diabetes