Optimization of rocker sole footwear
Table 3: The proportion of participants with a peak pressure below 200 kPa in the control shoe, the group-
optimized design (52% apex) and the personalized design (individually selected apex) for both the 15° and
20° rocker angles (RA), in each of the three anatomical regions.
Participants with Diabetes
Healthy Individuals
Apex position Rocker angle =15° Rocker angle = 20° Rocker angle =15° Rocker angle = 20°
52% 42% 46% 39% 56%
57% 30% 26% 39% 32%
62% 20% 23% 14% 9%
67% 8% 5% 8% 3%
52% 75% 87% 68% 88%
57% 19% 13% 23% 8%
62% 2% 0% 6% 5%
67% 5% 0% 3% 0%
52% 25% 45% 33% 35%
57% 38% 25% 32% 41%
62% 30% 21% 27% 15%
67% 75% 9% 8% 9%
1st MTP
2-4 MTH
Hallux
Data are reported on all diabetes participants (n = 102) and also participants with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy (n = 17).
for the 1st MTP and 2–4 MTH regions and small in these studies supports the idea that increasing rocker
the hallux region (5%). We therefore suggest that, if angle will decrease plantar pressures. However, there
individuals are unwilling to wear a shoe with a 20° appears to be a complex relationship between apex
rocker angle, then a 15° could be prescribed as an angle and apex position. Whereas in our first study,
acceptable alternative. we investigated the effect of varying apex position
when apex angle was fixed at 80° [16] , in this current
Through a series of two studies (this current study study apex angle was fixed at 95°. Interestingly, it
and a previously published study was not possible to specify a group-optimized apex
), we have
[16]
attempted to understand the combined effect of the position in the previous study because of considerable
three design features of curved rocker footwear: apex inter-subject variability. However, the use of a 95° apex
angle, apex position and rocker angle. Data from both angle led to a much more consistent response in this
Current Pedorthics | July/August 2019
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