Lo Wai Ting, Yick Kit Lun, Ng Sun Pui, Yip Joanne
Institute of Textiles and Clothing and Hong Kong Community College, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(2):311-24. doi: 10.1682/JRRD.2013.01.0012.
Orthotic insoles are commonly used in the treatment of the diabetic foot to prevent ulcerations. Choosing suitable insole material is vital for effective foot orthotic treatment. We examined seven types of orthotic materials. In consideration of the key requirements and end uses of orthotic insoles for the diabetic foot, including accommodation, cushioning, and control, we developed test methods for examining important physical properties, such as force reduction and compression properties, insole-skin friction, and shear properties, as well as thermal comfort properties of fabrication materials. A novel performance index that combines various material test results together was also proposed to quantify the overall performance of the insole materials. The investigation confirms that the insole-sock interface has a lower coefficient of friction and shearing stress than those of the insole-skin interface. It is also revealed that material brand and the corresponding density and cell volume, as well as thickness, are closely associated with the performance of moisture absorption and thermal comfort. On the basis of the proposed performance index, practitioners can better understand the properties and performance of various insole materials, thus prescribing suitable orthotic insoles for patients with diabetic foot.
矫形鞋垫常用于糖尿病足的治疗以预防溃疡。选择合适的鞋垫材料对于有效的足部矫形治疗至关重要。我们研究了七种矫形材料。考虑到糖尿病足矫形鞋垫的关键要求和最终用途，包括适应性、缓冲性和控制性，我们开发了测试方法来检测重要的物理性能，如力的降低和压缩性能、鞋垫与皮肤的摩擦力和剪切性能，以及制作材料的热舒适性能。还提出了一种将各种材料测试结果结合在一起的新型性能指标，以量化鞋垫材料的整体性能。调查证实，鞋垫与袜子的界面比鞋垫与皮肤的界面具有更低的摩擦系数和剪切应力。研究还表明，材料品牌以及相应的密度、泡孔体积和厚度与吸湿性能和热舒适性密切相关。基于所提出的性能指标，从业者可以更好地了解各种鞋垫材料的特性和性能，从而为糖尿病足患者开具合适的矫形鞋垫。
