Therapeutic footwear for the insensitive foot.

The patient with insensitive feet may be injured by poorly fitted or inappropriate footwear. The risk of soft-tissue injury from friction or pressure can be reduced by careful selection and fitting of footwear and frequent evaluation of both footwear and the patient's feet. Concepts, methods, and materials utilized in treating patients with Hansen's disease can be applied to the prevention and treatment of injuries secondary to sensory deficit caused by other conditions. The microcapsule sock test has been used to assess shear forces and pressures that occur while shoes are worn. Test method and interpretation of test results are described.