Around 60 million Europeans have diabetes, and up to 25% of them will develop a diabetic foot ulcer: an open wound on the foot that, in severe cases, can lead to amputation. So called ‘rocker shoes’, a type of shoe with a curved, rounded sole that creates a gentle ‘rocking’ motion while walking, aims to prevent ulcer development by reducing plantar peak pressure.
The effectiveness of rocker shoes varies considerably and depends largely on the individual skill of the shoe technician shaping the insole and the outsole.
Professor Juha Hijmans, from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the UMCG, has developed an algorithm that determines the optimal shape of the outer sole. To bring this innovation into practice, Prof. Hijmans, Lode Holding, and Stepp Footcare jointly initiated a collaboration. Together, they will further develop the algorithm-based rocker shoe concept, enabling future diabetes patients to benefit from an optimal, personalized rocker sole that reduces the load on vulnerable anatomical structures.
Juha Hijmans: “Too many patients develop diabetic foot ulcer, leading to longlasting immobility and often to amputation. The current focus is on wound treatment rather than prevention. By shifting the focus from treatment to prevention, we aim to improve the quality of life of people with diabetes while reducing healthcare costs.”
