Clinical trial NCT01816906: Development and Testing of a New Generation of Diabetic Footwear
Official title: Development of a New Generation of DIABetic Footwear Using an Integrated Approach and SMART Materials
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Diabetes Complications
Diabetic Neuropathies
Lead sponsor: Staffordshire University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: India Diabetes Research Foundation & Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals
First posted: 2013-03-22
Enrollment: 82
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 80
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: This particular trial is looking to compare the effectiveness of two types of foot bed/ sole materials used within diabetic footwear.

Detailed description: DiaBSmart as a project aims to generate, transfer and exchange the clinical, academic and production knowledge between the partners to create a new generation of diabetic footwear through a newly developed patient assessment system. The transfer of knowledge between various sectors ensures that the need of patients is considered and transferred effectively to product development using a scientific approach. The objectives include:(1) the design and development of an integrated system of DIABetic foot assessment (2) to validate the newly developed system using experimental methods (3) to develop a suitable material to meet the mechanical and clinical requirements (4) to evaluate the mechanical and clinical effectiveness of material choice in reducing the potential risk of foot complications. The Numerical, Experimental and Mathematical Analyses system will integrate all aspects of diabetic footwear including; clinical and biomechanical assessment, material choice and aesthetic design. Proposed interdisciplinary, inter-sectorial approach is unique and brings together the expertise from research institutions, industry and clinics. This project while enhancing the knowledge base in diabetic assessment; will have a clear impact on new product development leading to both clinical and economic benefits. The products include a new generation of integrated SMART /multi material midsoles and/or orthoses for diabetic footwear. Properties of the materials will be optimised with a view to minimise/ redistribute the pressure and hence the stress on the soft tissue in the critical plantar areas of the foot. Whilst significantly affecting the course of the disease, the products will aim to reduce the risk of limb loss in patients with diabetes, the most frequent cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed with Diabetes by WHO criteria
* Lack of sensation to 10 g monofilament or VPT \>25 V
* Ability to walk independently for 10 m
* No ambulatory status
* No severe foot deformity like Charcot foot
* Willingness to be assigned to randomisation of footwear
* At least one palpable pedal pulse on each foot

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous ulceration or current Trophic Ulcers
* Active foot infection
* Alzheimer and dementia and impaired cognitive function
* Gross abnormality or Foot deformity requiring footbed customisation
* Chronic Kidney Disease
* Hammer toes
* Previous foot surgeries

Primary outcomes:
measure: Postural Sway During Shod Standing
timeFrame: 6 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Ankle Strength Left 1
timeFrame: Up to 6 months
measure: Ankle Strength Left 2
timeFrame: Up to 6 months
measure: Ankle Strength Right 1
timeFrame: Up to 6 months
measure: Ankle Strength Right 2
timeFrame: Up to 6 months
Other outcomes:
measure: Vibration Perception Threshold
timeFrame: Up to 6 months
Locations:
city: Chennai
country: India
facility: IDRF/ AR Hopsitals
state: Tamilnadu
Study officials:
affiliation: Staffordshire University
name: Nachiappan Chockalingam, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: AR Hospitals/ IDRF
name: Lakshmi Sundar, MBBS
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
affiliation: Staffordshire University
name: Roozbeh Naemi, PhD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References:
citation: Chatzistergos PE, Naemi R, Chockalingam N. An MRI compatible loading device for the reconstruction of clinically relevant plantar pressure distributions and loading scenarios of the forefoot. Med Eng Phys. 2014 Sep;36(9):1205-11. doi: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2014.06.006. Epub 2014 Jul 7.
citation: Naemi R, Chatzistergos PE, Chockalingam N. A mathematical method for quantifying in vivo mechanical behaviour of heel pad under dynamic load. Med Biol Eng Comput. 2016 Mar;54(2-3):341-50. doi: 10.1007/s11517-015-1316-5. Epub 2015 Jun 5.
citation: Healy A, Naemi R, Chockalingam N. The effectiveness of footwear and other removable off-loading devices in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2014;10(4):215-30. doi: 10.2174/1573399810666140918121438.
citation: Healy A, Naemi R, Chockalingam N. The effectiveness of footwear as an intervention to prevent or to reduce biomechanical risk factors associated with diabetic foot ulceration: a systematic review. J Diabetes Complications. 2013 Jul-Aug;27(4):391-400. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2013.03.001. Epub 2013 May 1.
citation: NAEMI, R., HEALY, A., Sundar, L., Ramachandran, A.R. and CHOCKALINGAM, N., 2013. A Combined Technique for Randomisation of a Small Number of Participants with a Variety of Covariates into Treatment and Control Groups in Randomised Controlled Trials. Journal of Clinical Trials, 4(01).
citation: Chatzistergos PE, Naemi R, Healy A, Gerth P, Chockalingam N. Subject Specific Optimisation of the Stiffness of Footwear Material for Maximum Plantar Pressure Reduction. Ann Biomed Eng. 2017 Aug;45(8):1929-1940. doi: 10.1007/s10439-017-1826-4. Epub 2017 May 9.
citation: Healy A, Naemi R, Sundar L, Chatzistergos P, Ramachandran A, Chockalingam N. Hallux plantar flexor strength in people with diabetic neuropathy: Validation of a simple clinical test. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2018 Oct;144:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2018.07.038. Epub 2018 Aug 13.
citation: Naemi R, Chatzistergos P, Suresh S, Sundar L, Chockalingam N, Ramachandran A. Can plantar soft tissue mechanics enhance prognosis of diabetic foot ulcer? Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2017 Apr;126:182-191. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2017.02.002. Epub 2017 Feb 10.
citation: Naemi R, Chatzistergos P, Sundar L, Chockalingam N, Ramachandran A. Differences in the mechanical characteristics of plantar soft tissue between ulcerated and non-ulcerated foot. J Diabetes Complications. 2016 Sep-Oct;30(7):1293-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2016.06.003. Epub 2016 Jun 8.
citation: Chatzistergos PE, Naemi R, Chockalingam N. A method for subject-specific modelling and optimisation of the cushioning properties of insole materials used in diabetic footwear. Med Eng Phys. 2015 Jun;37(6):531-8. doi: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2015.03.009. Epub 2015 Apr 27.
citation: Chatzistergos PE, Naemi R, Sundar L, Ramachandran A, Chockalingam N. The relationship between the mechanical properties of heel-pad and common clinical measures associated with foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. J Diabetes Complications. 2014 Jul-Aug;28(4):488-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2014.03.011. Epub 2014 Mar 22.
citation: Blazkiewicz M, Sundar L, Healy A, Ramachandran A, Chockalingam N, Naemi R. Assessment of lower leg muscle force distribution during isometric ankle dorsi and plantar flexion in patients with diabetes: a preliminary study. J Diabetes Complications. 2015 Mar;29(2):282-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2014.10.007. Epub 2014 Oct 22.
citation: Naemi, R., Linyard-Tough, K., Healy, A. and Chockalingam, N., 2015. The influence of slow recovery insole on plantar pressure and contact area during walking. Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, 15(02), p.1540005.