Clinically, diabetes is not just “high blood sugar”. As the course of the disease increases, many diabetic patients will develop peripheral neuropathy and blood circulation disorders, and the feet become a high-risk “hard-hit area”. Among them, diabetic foot is a common and serious complication, ranging from ulceration and infection to amputation and disability.
So, the question is – how can we detect, warn and intervene in advance? At this time, a new technology is entering the clinical and rehabilitation department, which is: plantar pressure distribution system.
01 What is the plantar pressure distribution system?
Simply put, it is a smart pressure sensor array that accurately records the force distribution of each point on the sole of the foot when a person is standing, walking, running, etc. Through data visualization, the system can clearly tell us: which part is abnormally stressed, which foot is more burdened, whether the gait is unbalanced, and whether there is a concentrated pressure area.
This system has long been used in sports rehabilitation and orthopedic assessment, but now it is providing new solutions for early monitoring and prevention of diabetic foot.
02 The biggest problem of diabetic foot: loss of sensation + abnormal pressure
The most terrifying thing about diabetic foot is that patients are often “unaware” of pain. A pair of shoes that rub the feet, a part that is constantly under pressure, ordinary people may feel uncomfortable and change shoes long ago, but diabetic patients may not notice it at all. As a result, long-term concentrated pressure leads to local skin necrosis, ulceration and even infection.
The plantar pressure distribution system just fills this “blind spot”. Even if the patient does not feel pain, the system can “see” where the pressure is concentrated and give a warning in time.
03 Scientific monitoring + personalized customization, making protection more proactive
Through plantar pressure data, doctors can determine whether there are abnormal gait, uneven plantar weight bearing and other problems. If it is found that the pressure in a certain part is too high, early intervention can be made, such as customizing corrective insoles, adjusting the shoe shape, and strengthening foot care to avoid wounds.
For diabetic foot patients who have already had slight ulcers, the system can also help doctors evaluate the progress of rehabilitation: whether the pressure is tending to be balanced, whether the gait has improved, thereby providing dynamic data support for the treatment plan.
04 Both rehabilitation centers and home care are using it
Today, more and more rehabilitation institutions are beginning to introduce plantar pressure distribution systems for regular screening of high-risk groups. Many diabetes management centers have also begun to include this test in their annual physical examinations. Even some portable devices have entered the field of home care, where patients can record data at home and doctors can view and analyze the results remotely.
This means that the prevention and control of diabetic foot is changing from “dealing with problems only when they occur” to “early detection and early intervention.”
