Effects of shoes in individuals with intermittent claudication
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An understanding of footwear and orthotic modifications on gait biomechanics in patients with intermittent claudication
IRAS ID
141991
Contact name
Christopher Nester
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Salford
Research summary
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the term used for clogging of the arteries at the lower limbs. One of the major effects of this disease is intermittent claudication or pain at the lower limbs, mainly the calf area. Pain most often arises during ambulation and is relieved following approx. ten minutes of rest. It can however be very debilitating and significantly affects the quality of life of these individuals. Lower ambulation levels can aggravate the circulation problem, leading to surgery, amputation and often death. The current research is being undertaken with the purpose of identifying the specific effects of rocker sole shoe and orthotic designs on the gait of individuals with intermittent claudication. Four different types of footwear and one orthotic device will be tested. The study involves participants walking across a gait laboratory while kinetic, kinematic and muscle data are being collected (force plate, camera capture and electromyography). Data collection will take place at the University of Salford. The results of this study will allow for the linking of specific shoe features (such as rocker sole angle, positioning and pitch of the shoe) to specific changes in the balance of forces and moments at the lower limb during walking and finally to the resulting changes in calf muscle activity of claudicants. These results will be used to design shoes for intermittent claudicants that will specifically target their calf muscle activity in order to increase their pain free walking distance and therefore allow them to be more ambulatory hence improving their quality of life. The same concept will be used for the design of shoes that exercise the calf muscles to improve circulation at the lower limb. Such shoes can be very important assets to the management of intermittent claudication.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0382
Date of REC Opinion
28 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion