Characteristics of diabetic patients with hallux valgus based on the plantar pressure and foot dimension measurement

Abstract

This study is a part of a large project of diabetic foot investigation in Chinese Sichuan area, and at least 176 diabetic patients and their counterparts were collected. These samples were gathered for the purpose of investigating the biomechanical characteristics of the diabetic subjects with hallux valgus, and the results of this study could support the development of diabetic protection products. Methods This study was design to understand the features of diabetic hallux valgus group on the foot size and plantar pressure distribution, hence, 13 Diabetic patient with hallux valgus, 37 without hallux valgus, and 16 normal subjects with hallux valgus were selected finally to compare, after the randomly selecting and following the excluding criterion. At the beginning of measurement, anthropological variables of each sample, the age (year), height (m) and body weight (Kg) were recorded. Then anthropometric measurement of foot length (mm) and foot width (mm) was conducted by scanning the plantar image. After that, the plantar pressures parameters of mean pressure under ten regions were recorded. Finally, variance differences among these three groups were analyzed by a one way ANOVA test, with significant level equaling to a=0.05. Results (1) The width of diabetic hallux valgus group recorded larger than the one of group diabetic without hallux valgus (P=0.065>0.05); (2) The mean pressure under the group of diabetic hallux valgus group showed higher beneath all the foot regions, comparing with the diabetic without hallux valgus group (P>0.05 for all comparisons); (3) In contrast with group of normal subjects with hallux valgus, diabetic hallux valgus group demonstrated a higher pressure value on the all foot regions, except the regions of second and third metatarsal head (P>0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions The diabetic subject with hallux valgus has the following feature: (1) It showed a larger width than the one of group diabetic without hallux valgus, although significant difference only showed in the normal level; (2) A lager pressure value were existing on the group diabetic hallux valgus group under all of foot region, in comparison with that of group diabetic without hallux valgus, and average distinction was more than 20%; (3) The same condition happened on the comparison with normal subjects with hallux valgus and also the difference could reach the average of 20%, while diabetic hallux valgus had a smaller value on the regions of second and third metatarsal head;(4) A special attention need to be paid to this group in correct footwear wearing in order to avoiding the foot damage.