An Evaluation of the Effect of Dimple Insoles on Foot Temperature in Diabetic Patients

Aferhane, Asma; Douzi, Hassan; Harba, Rachid; Vilcahuaman, Luis; Almenar-Arasanz, Alejandro J.; Alfaro-Santafé, Javier; Arbañil, Hugo; Teresa Arista, María; Naemi, Roozbeh

Abstract

Objective: Insoles play a crucial role in foot comfort, with their effect on foot temperature being a key factor. This study aims to evaluate and compare the effect of walking with two different insole types—dimple insoles versus a conventional insole—on foot temperature changes in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Methods: Thermal imaging was used to measure the foot temperature of nine participants immediately before and after walking 250 m in each insole. Temperature variations were analyzed for the whole foot across four specific regions to assess and compare the effect of each insole on foot temperature. Results: The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test revealed that contralateral temperature differences between the left and right feet after walking (∆TAfter) were significantly (p<0.05) lower in dimple insoles compared to the conventional insoles. This effect was particularly strong in the midfoot and toe regions. Conclusions: The results indicate that insole type can influence foot contralateral temperature differences after walking. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting insoles based on thermal data and can have implications in improving patient outcomes.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 4, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Mar 6, 2025
• Publication Date: Mar 6, 2025
• Deposit Date: Mar 7, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 10, 2025
• Journal: Sensors
• Electronic ISSN: 1424-8220
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1623
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s25051623