2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (28): 4587-4592

Application of customized orthopedic insoles in the treatment of flatfoot

Zhou Xiangying1, Zeng Qing1, Liao Zhengwen1, Lu Pengcheng1, Zou Jihua2, Li Shilin1, Huang Guozhi1, 2   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Orthopedic insole is widely used in the treatment of flatfeet, for the advantages of non-invasion and continuous intervention. Compared with prefabricated orthopedic insole, customized orthopedic insole has better adaptability, which can effectively support the arch height, adjust the plantar pressure distribution and correct the biological force line.
OBJECTIVE: To introduce the clinical application of customized orthopedic insoles in the treatment of flatfeet in recent years, and the innovations in design and production methods.
METHODS: Related articles were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Wanfang, VIP and CNKI from January 2006 to December 2020, with the key words of “flatfeet; orthopedic insoles; foot orthoses; customized; personalized; effect; biomechanics; plantar pressure; mechanism’’ in English and Chinese, separately. Eventually, 72 articles that met the criteria were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The key of custom-made orthopedic insoles in the treatment of flatfeet is to restore and compensate the foot arch function by selecting appropriate materials and shapes. The specific biomechanical mechanism remains to be explored. (2) With the development of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing and 3D printing technology, the design and production of customized orthopedic insoles tend to be more digital and precise, but there are still shortcomings that need to be optimized. (3) Children with flatfeet can benefit from customized orthopedic insoles more than adults. Patients with obvious clinical symptoms or with multiple foot, ankle and knee diseases should also give priority to customized orthopedic insoles. In the future, more rigorous clinical comparison trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of customized orthopedic insoles in different flatfoot populations.
Key words: orthopedic insole, foot orthoses, custom, flatfoot, arch, design and manufacture, effect