Keynote: Foot Biomechanics

Foot disease is a major problem in patients with diabetes mellitus. Every 20 seconds someone in the world loses a leg because of diabetes. A foot ulcer precedes most amputations. Changes in foot biomechanics during ambulation are an important risk factor for foot ulceration. In particular, increases in plantar pressures have been indicated as contributing
factor. Therefore, reduction of these pressures, called offloading, is important both in the prevention and treatment of these chronic wounds.

The structural changes in the foot that cause an alteration in foot biomechanics are deformities, skin and subcutaneous tissue changes and will be discussed in the lecture. Offloading a foot ulcer can be achieved by many different modalities and devices, that all aim to redistribute the pressure under the foot in order to offloading the ulcer region. The mechanisms by which this can be achieved will be discussed, to help better understand foot biomechanics, together with the association between offloading efficacy and healing efficacy.