Medical and Biological Sciences XXVI/2 - Collegium Medicum ...

The assessment of influence of thermoplastic foot pads on the body stability in patients with foot dysfunctions... 43
the body stability is influenced by variables such as
body weight, height and the size of the body base field
[4, 5]. Improper footwear, prolonged external load,
obesity, weakened musculo-ligament apparatus, and
other factors could lead to an acquired deformity that
reduces motor skills and over time can cause pain [6].
Due to muscles weakness, the whole body weight is
transferred to the ligament, which stretches as a result
of disability to cope with too much effort. This
overload causes irreversible changes in the
osteoarticular system, which leads to inflammation and
distortion [7]. In literature, the term ‘static defect or
distortion; is used and relates to defects in the
developing osteoarticular system due to imbalance
between endurance and load of the system in gravity
conditions [8]. Foot dysfunctions are caused by muscle
imbalance and dysesthesia. Congenital foot
dysfunctions occur frequently in the course of
neuromuscular disorders [5]. The study paid particular
attention to the selection of appropriate orthopedic
supply for patients with foot dysfunction. We
presented applying thermoform insole as a way of
correction and prevention of dysfunctional feet. The
main feature of the thermally modeled insoles is the
ability to make them individually for each foot of the
patient. Insoles of this type are biomechanically
designed to shape a foot naturally, support its side
surfaces and help to correct and control the instability
of the foot. The main purpose of functional orthopedic
insoles is to stabilize the lower ankle joint, to set a foot
in the shoe properly and treat pain in the foot area.
Proper positioning of the foot by an insole helps other
locomotive components (joints of lower limbs and
spine) to increase operational efficiency and prevents
from the formation of pathological changes in the
adjacent joints of dysfunctional feet. An insole also
helps to reduce the feeling of congested muscle fatigue.
The manufacturer of this type of insoles lists a number
of features which positively improve a foot comfort:
secure the optimal distribution of pressing the ground,
support the vaulted feet, reduce the risk of ankle and
knee joint injuries, protect the Achilles tendon, provide
an accurate foot keeping in the axis of motion, prevent
limbs fatigue, are anti-static, hygienic, easy to clean,
comfortable and lightweight - insulate from the cold
and overheating of the foot. The insoles of this type are
made of polyethylene foam, which makes them
lightweight, waterproof, shock-absorbing, antibacterial
and antifungal, which provides a hygienic maintenance
of feet. The implementation of a thermally modeled
insole is preceded by a diagnostic system based on a
podoscope study, which enables to assess the shape
and function of a foot. The diagnosis is followed by the
insole creation process: an insole placed in a shoe is
heated to an appropriate temperature, after that the
shoe with the insole is worn on the foot. Under the
influence of self-weight, the process of forming the
insole to the present shape of the foot begins. The
insole is then cut and adjusted to the shoes, as it should
in fact form wholeness with the shoe. Then, the
pressure force on different parts of the foot changes
with the use of wedges and pads; it is also possible to
use elements equalizing the length of a shortened limb.
In each phase of the treatment, a thermoform insole
can be remodeled, depending on the current therapeutic
needs, which gives the patient and therapist a full
opportunity to control and adjust the insole at a given
stage of treatment. The correct setting and functioning
of the lower limbs significantly influence the proper
posture maintenance. Untreated feet defects are often
the cause of pain in the foot, leg, knee, hip and spine
areas. Functional orthopedic insole influences the
reduction of pain. However, it should be remembered
that only a comprehensive treatment, which consists of
a precise diagnosis, treatment of dysfunctional tissues,
correction of muscular-skeletal imbalances and
rehabilitation carried out properly, is the key to an
appropriate therapy [9].
AIM
The aim of this study was to assess the influence of a
thermoform insole on body stability improvement in
patients with foot dysfunctions.
To obtain the evaluation, it is necessary to answer
the following questions: 1) What is the improvement of
stability after the application of a thermoform insole,
on the basis of research conducted by an electronic
platform Freeman Easy Tech LIBRA® 2) What was
the influence of the variables, such as age, BMI
(depending on height and weight), a foot size of a
patient, on the above results 3) What is the assessment
of the influence of an individually tailored thermoform
insole on the stability of standing on one leg?
MATERIAL
The research included 20 subjects with one or both feet
dysfunctions, qualified to apply modeled thermoform
insole in order to correct the musculo-skeletal