Plantar pressures in fiberglass total contact casts vs. a new diabetic walking boot.

The objective of this study was to determine in healthy individuals whether the Bledsoe Diabetic Conformer Boot reduces plantar pressures as well as a fiberglass total contact cast. Eighteen normal subjects, without any prior foot or ankle problems, were recruited for this study. Plantar pressures were measured using the Novel Pedar in-shoe pressure measurement system. The results of this study demonstrate that in individuals without foot deformities, the Bledsoe Diabetic Conformer Boot performs as well as, and in many parameters, even better than a fiberglass total contact cast with respect to reducing the forces and pressures on the plantar surface of the foot.