Department of Engineering, School of Digital, Technologies and Arts, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DE, UK.
Centre for Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Technologies, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DE, UK.
Sensors (Basel). 2024 Jan 15;24(2):539. doi: 10.3390/s24020539.
Shore hardness (SH) is a cost-effective and easy-to-use method to assess soft tissue biomechanics. Its use for the plantar soft tissue could enhance the clinical management of conditions such as diabetic foot complications, but its validity and reliability remain unclear. Twenty healthy adults were recruited for this study. Validity and reliability were assessed across six different plantar sites. The validity was assessed against shear wave (SW) elastography (the gold standard). SH was measured by two examiners to assess inter-rater reliability. Testing was repeated following a test/retest study design to assess intra-rater reliability. SH was significantly correlated with SW speed measured in the skin or in the microchamber layer of the first metatarsal head (MetHead), third MetHead and rearfoot. Intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots of limits of agreement indicated satisfactory levels of reliability for these sites. No significant correlation between SH and SW elastography was found for the hallux, 5th MetHead or midfoot. Reliability for these sites was also compromised. SH is a valid and reliable measurement for plantar soft tissue biomechanics in the first MetHead, the third MetHead and the rearfoot. Our results do not support the use of SH for the hallux, 5th MetHead or midfoot.
跖部硬度（SH）是一种经济有效且易于使用的评估软组织生物力学的方法。其在足底软组织中的应用可以增强对糖尿病足并发症等疾病的临床管理，但它的有效性和可靠性仍不清楚。本研究招募了 20 名健康成年人。在六个不同的足底部位评估了有效性和可靠性。有效性是通过与剪切波（SW）弹性成像（金标准）进行评估的。由两名检查者测量 SH，以评估组内可靠性。采用测试/复测研究设计进行测试，以评估组内可靠性。SH 与第一跖骨头（MetHead）、第三跖骨头和后足皮肤或微室层中的 SW 速度呈显著相关。这些部位的组内相关系数和 Bland-Altman 图表明具有令人满意的可靠性。在拇趾、第五跖骨头或中足，SH 与 SW 弹性成像之间没有显著相关性。这些部位的可靠性也受到影响。SH 是第一跖骨头、第三跖骨头和后足足底软组织生物力学的有效且可靠的测量方法。我们的结果不支持在拇趾、第五跖骨头或中足使用 SH。
