OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficiency of custom-made diabetic shoes through the measurement of peak plantar pressure, compared between bare foot and in-shoe in diabetic patients METHOD: Seventeen diabetic patients participated in this study. It used diabetic shoes manufactured by Apex and P.W. minor & son. The foot was divided into 6 different areas, and peak plantar pressures of bare foot and in-shoe were measured during walking by EMED system and PEDAR , respectively. RESULTS: There were significant decreases in peak plantar pressures of all plantar areas in all types of diabetic shoes. Especially, peak plantar pressures of diabetic shoes manufactured by P.W. minor & son in medial metatarsal and big toe areas were more decreased than by Apex. CONCLUSION: The custom-made diabetic shoes can effectively reduce plantar pressures in all palntar areas of the foot, and also can prevent the development or recurrence of foot ulcers at specific areas according to the variable physical constitution of diabetic shoes.
