Peak pressure curve: an effective parameter for early detection of foot functional impairments in diabetic patients.

A clinical investigation was conducted on 61 diabetic patients and 22 healthy volunteers. Joint mobility, muscular function of the foot-ankle complex and plantar pressure measurements were characterised. A clustering algorithm was applied to obtain patient classification based on the shape and amplitude of the time curve of the instantaneous maximum pressure the foot experienced during gait. Results indicate that a screening test based on the peak pressure curve might be an effective way to detect diabetic patients at risk of foot ulceration.