Update on the Use of Infrared Thermography in the Early Detection of Diabetic Foot Complications: A Bibliographic Review.

Foot lesions are among the most frequent causes of morbidity and disability in the diabetic population. Thus, the exploration of preventive control measures is vital for detecting early signs and symptoms of this disease. Infrared thermography is one of the complementary diagnostic tools available that has proven to be effective in the control of diabetic foot. The last review on this topic was published in 2015 and so, we conducted a bibliographic review of the main databases (PubMed, the Web of Science, Cochrane library, and Scopus) during the third quarter of 2023. We aimed to identify the effectiveness of infrared thermography as a diagnostic element in pre-ulcerous states in diabetic patients and to detect diabetic foot ulcer complications. We obtained a total of 1199 articles, 26 of which were finally included in the present review and published after 2013. After analyzing the use of infrared thermography in diabetic patients both with and without ulcers, as well as in healthy individuals, we concluded that is an effective tool for detecting early-stage ulcers in diabetic foot patients.

Impact Acceleration During Prolonged Running While Wearing Conventional Versus Minimalist Shoes.

Purpose: In recent years a sub-group of minimalist runners have emerged who aim to perform physical exercise more naturally in an attempt to reduce running-related injuries. Here we aimed to determine the effect that running with minimalist footwear in a prolonged run has on foot-impact accelerations. Method: Seventeen runners ran with minimalist and conventional shoes (MS and CS, respectively) in two separate sessions; the participants had experience with both footwear types. We measured the length and frequency of each stride, as well as the tibial and head impact acceleration every 5 minutes during a prolonged run (30 minutes at 80% of each individual's maximum aerobic speed). Results: There were significant differences in the acceleration rate in the tibia (CS: 516.1 ± 238.47 G/s and MS: 786.6 ± 238.45 G/s; p = .009) and head (CS: 73.3 ± 23.65 G/s and MS: 120.7 ± 44.13 G/s; p = .000). Our data indicate that the type of footwear increased the stride frequency and decreased length and that the impact acceleration is increased with MS compared to CS (p < .05 in both cases). However, the effect of prolonged run was not significantly different between CS and MS (p < .05). Conclusions: The peak tibia acceleration and headtibia acceleration rate indicate that the use of MS may be related to a higher risk of injury. These differences remained independently of the runners' fatigue state.

Intra and intersession repeatability and reliability of the S-Plate® pressure platform.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the repeatability and reliability of the S-Plate® pressure platform in a group of healthy subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty subjects, free from physical conditions that would affect normal gait, walked along a five-meter corridor while data were recorded from the pressure platform. A total of 10 steps (five each side) were obtained as well as five static trials; the same measurements were repeated one week later. Peak and mean plantar pressures and contact area were recorded for both dynamic and static trials. Additionally, weight supported on each limb was documented during static trials. To assess intrasession and intersession repeatability and reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and coefficient of variation (CoV) were calculated. RESULTS: Taking the ICC values into account, every static and dynamic variable analysed showed moderate to excellent reliability and the CoV values were all below 12%. CONCLUSION: Measurements of either static or dynamic plantar pressure variables with the S-Plate® pressure platform show good repeatability and reliability, and so it is useful for comparing steps within and between sessions.