Effect of insole material on force and plantar pressures during walking.

Twelve subjects between the ages of 24 and 35 years walked barefoot over a pressure platform with the following insole materials placed directly on top of the platform: 1) PPT, 2) Spenco, and 3) Viscolas. Maximum vertical force, vertical force-time integral as well as maximum plantar pressure data were collected for the rearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot regions. The results were not significant for maximum vertical force and vertical force-time integral among the three insole materials when compared to barefoot-only walking. There was, however, a significant reduction in forefoot maximum plantar pressure among the three materials compared to barefoot-only walking. In the rearfoot region, a reduction in maximum plantar pressure was seen only with PPT and Spenco.