Plantar pressure as a risk factor for foot ulceration in diabetes - V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of plantar pressure as a modifiable risk factor for foot ulceration in people with diabetes classified ‘high risk’ according to SIGN guidelines
IRAS ID
210872
Contact name
Joanne Hurst
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Glasgow Caledonian University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 1 days
Research summary
Foot ulcers (a type of foot wound) and lower limb amputation are devastating complications associated with diabetes. Current research is focused on treatment of diabetic foot ulcers with little on prevention. You are more at risk of developing a foot ulcer if you have lack of sensation, poor blood supply, foot deformity and/or a previous foot ulcer. High plantar pressure (increased pressure on the sole of the foot) has shown significant risk for the development of foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. However, present clinical practice does not measure foot pressure when assessing risk of ulceration. Instead, alternative indicators such as foot deformity and callus represent patients’ designated risk category according to current Scottish Intercollegiate (SIGN) guidelines. We wish to investigate how high levels of foot pressure influence patients classed as ‘high risk’.
Within the ‘high risk’ category some people have a history of foot ulcers and some people have all the risk factors, yet never have an ulcer. Raised plantar pressures are frequently evident within patients within the ‘high risk’ category. It is this ‘high risk’ group which provides interest to the researcher, as this study aims to investigate whether plantar pressure measurement has a role differentiating those individuals with a history of plantar ulceration and those who possess all the characteristics of ulcer risk, but do not have a previous history of ulceration. The findings from this study may open an opportunity to implement a screening technique. The extent to which foot pressure measurement could alter foot risk and be utilised in the planning and evaluation of foot ulcer prevention is currently unknown.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/2177
Date of REC Opinion
2 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion