Version 1
: Received: 29 December 2023 / Approved: 30 December 2023 / Online: 3 January 2024 (03:43:57 CET)
How to cite:
Rao, S.; Maibach, H. Comparative Analysis of Strap-Induced Pressure at the Toe Hold Area: Assessing the Impact of Rolled Inner Seam Flip Flops in Healthy Volunteers. Preprints2024, 2024010011. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.0011.v1
Rao, S.; Maibach, H. Comparative Analysis of Strap-Induced Pressure at the Toe Hold Area: Assessing the Impact of Rolled Inner Seam Flip Flops in Healthy Volunteers. Preprints 2024, 2024010011. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.0011.v1
Rao, S.; Maibach, H. Comparative Analysis of Strap-Induced Pressure at the Toe Hold Area: Assessing the Impact of Rolled Inner Seam Flip Flops in Healthy Volunteers. Preprints2024, 2024010011. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.0011.v1
APA Style
Rao, S., & Maibach, H. (2024). Comparative Analysis of Strap-Induced Pressure at the Toe Hold Area: Assessing the Impact of Rolled Inner Seam Flip Flops in Healthy Volunteers. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.0011.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Rao, S. and Howard Maibach. 2024 "Comparative Analysis of Strap-Induced Pressure at the Toe Hold Area: Assessing the Impact of Rolled Inner Seam Flip Flops in Healthy Volunteers" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.0011.v1
Abstract
Abstract:Background: Foot ulcers, especially dorsal foot ulcers caused by straps in footwear, can lead to discomfort, pain, and severe complications, particularly in individuals with diabetes and leprosy. While plantar foot pressure measurements have been extensively studied, research on the impact of strap-induced pressure on the dorsal foot aspect remains limited.Research question: The main research question of this prospective study is: Does the implementation of a rolled inner seam strap design (RIS) in flip-flops result in reduced pressure at the toehold area compared to traditional strap designs (Control) in healthy volunteers?Methods: We studied healthy female volunteers, with 10 feet (5 left and 5 right) per arm of the study. Two types of flip-flops, RIS and Control, were compared in a standardized 5-step walk trial on a hardwood floor. Pressure at the toehold was measured using Pressure Sensitive Switches with portable, accurate, ultra-thin pressure sensors. Paired t-tests compared the maximum pressure at the toehold between RIS and Control flip-flops (p < 0.05).Results: The study revealed a statistically significant difference in pressure at the toehold between the RIS and Control flip-flops (p = 0.0014). The mean difference of -40.90 grams (95% CI: -61.22 to -20.58) indicated that the RIS exerted significantly lower pressure than the Control flip flops. The RIS group had a mean pressure of 29.30 grams. The Control group had a mean pressure of 70.20 grams at the toehold area.Significance: The findings of this study have significant clinical implications for individuals at risk of foot ulcers, particularly those with neuropathic conditions such as diabetes and leprosy. The implementation of the RIS design in flip-flops may offer a practical and cost-effective solution to reduce strap-induced pressure and mitigate the risk of strap-related foot ulcers, especially in resource-limited settings where comprehensive foot care is lacking.
Keywords
Foot ulcers; Dorsal foot; Flip-flops; Strap design; Pressure distribution
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Other
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
