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Healthy footwear for children & recent developments in diabetic foot care
"HEALTHY FOOT AND HEALTHY FOOTWEAR"
Successful podiatric symposium in Brno, Czechia
An article by the Czech Footwear and Leather Association (ČOKA)
As part of the KABO II 2021 trade fair, an international podiatric symposium was held in Brno on 22 August 2021, organized by the Czech Footwear and Leather Association (ČOKA) with the support of the Czech Podiatric Society (ČPS). Titled "Healthy Foot and Healthy Footwear", the symposium's programme was divided into two blocks. The first block focused on children's feet and healthy footwear. In the second block, experts discussed diabetic foot, diabetic foot care options, appropriate education, and prevention of complications associated with diabetic foot syndrome.
Dr. Miroslav Koliba, MBA - President of ČPS and Dr. Michal Matějíček, CSc. - Vice-president of ČOKA kicked off the symposium and welcomed more than 60 shoe manufacturers, retailers, podiatrists, physiotherapists, doctors, and other medical professionals.
Healthy footwear for children's feet
Dr. Marie Součková, senior consultant of the Medical Podiatric Centre introduced the audience to the factors that can negatively affect the proper development of children's feet. Next, MUDr. Michal Matějíček, Csc, orthopaedist surgeon, emphasized the importance of a strong counter in children's shoes, which ensures the vertical position of the heel bone. Peter Body of Torumia demonstrated that manufacturers can respond responsibly to medical requirements regarding the construction and fit of children's footwear thanks to the WMS (Weit-Mittel-Schmall) system" in his report "Perfect fitting of children's shoes".
The German WMS system guarantees fitting shoes for most children because it offers shoes in three widths. It was developed in collaboration with podiatrists and orthopaedic footwear specialists and verified by the German Shoe Institute.
Ing. Magdaléna Kordošová from the Centre of Orthopaedic-Prosthetic Assistance, Prosthetics Bratislava closed the first block with a presentation focusing on the best ways to find adequate footwear to prevent and care for simple orthopaedic defects in children. She presented a classification of congenital and acquired leg/feet defects, the most common defect in children being the pes planovalgus, a flat foot with increased valgosity of the heel bone. She also addressed in her paper the essential requirements for properly designed children's footwear.
The second block of the symposium was opened by Ing. Milan Borský with his case study on the evaluation of the effect of orthopaedic inserts on the plantar pressure of the legs by the In-Shoe measuring system. This system involves mapping the pressure of the feet when analysing movement with a smart sensor system inside the shoe.
It focuses on the evaluation of foot pressure data and movement analysis to:
- biomechanical optimization of human performance e.g., in sports,
- looking for causes of risk of injury,
- clinical trial of an orthopaedic insert e.g., in the case of diabetic foot.
The presentation aimed to point to three basic parameters for motion analysis, to show 3 box analyses, to describe the typical sensor system configuration, and to show the results of the investigation of the influence of the orthopaedic insert with increased stabilizing effect on basic biomechanical parameters.
From left to right: PhDr. Vlasta Mayerová, MUDr. Miroslav Koliba and Jana Výmolová
Recent developments in diabetic foot care
Dr. Miroslav Koliba, MBA, President of ČPS, mentioned that one diabetic person loses a leg every 30 seconds in the world. How can this problem be tackled?
The underestimation of the severity of DFS, both by the patient and the physician, is a major contributing factor. The starting point to prevent complications is the early detection of DFS and specialized care in a podiatric clinic. For this reason, people with diabetes and their family members must know how to spot early signs of DFS.
Jana Výmolová, from the Diabetological and Podiatric Outpatient Clinic, explained that Diabetes Care and Professional Pedicure could prevent DFS and its complications. Due to neuropathy and increased plantar pressure, people with diabetes develop hyperkeratosis, often leading to ulceration. The skin is dry and prone to cracks, bruises, mycoses, eczema, and other injuries. When asked how to avoid such problems, Ms. Výmolová gave the following answer:
- control water temperature using a thermometer
- do not walk barefoot
- check your shoes before putting them on
- pay attention to radiators, heaters, hot sand, and tiles
- regularly remove pressure sore with ceramic file
- cut your nails straight across
- check your feet regularly in the mirror or ask another person
- lubricate your feet regularly with a cosmetic product specifically formulated for people with diabetes
- in case of injury, disinfect the wound immediately, cover it with a bandage, and get it checked up by a doctor
- get a pedicure, preferably dry/instrumental pedicure
The symposium was closed off by PhD. Vlasta Mayerová from the Czech Footwear and Leather Association. Ms. Mayerová presented the Erasmus+ DiaSHOE - Digital Education Programme for Diabetic Foot Control, co-funded by the European Commission. Participants were very interested in the project's objectives and wanted to know about the final material to be developed by the diverse group of European experts. The presentation led ČPS to extend an invitation to present the DiaSHOE project at the Congress Multidisciplinary Approach in Foot Care held In Ostrava on October 1, 2021.