The Reduction of 1st Metatarsal Plantar Pressures With a Novel Offloading Device (the Mandakini) in a Singaporean Population
Abstract AimsThere is an overall lack of affordable and accessible offloading modalities for diabetic foot ulceration. The Mandakini is a cheap offloading device made-up of gloves. This study aims to investigate its effectiveness in reducing plantar pressures compared to 7mm semi-compressed felt (SCF) and barefoot walking. Materials and methodsPlantar pressures of 30 healthy staff from a local hospital in Singapore were captured under three offloading conditions – the Mandakini, SCF and barefoot walking (control). Peak pressure (PP), pressure-time integral (PTI) and contact time (CT) at the 1st metatarsal and its surrounding regions were analysed. Participants rated their comfort levels in each condition on a visual analogue scale from 1 to 10.Results Statistically significant reductions in PP and PTI of 43 ± 12 kPa (14%) and 14 ± 4 kPa.s (16%) respectively were observed at the 1st metatarsal with the Mandakini compared to control (p=0.001, p=0.002). Reductions were however significantly lower than SCF which reduced PP and PTI by 83 ± 11 kPa (28%) and 28 ± 3 kPa.s (33%) respectively compared to control (p<0.001, p<0.001). No statistically significant difference in CT was observed with the Mandakini compared to control (p=0.499). Comfort levels were not significantly different between the Mandakini and SCF with means 5.7 ± 1.8 and 6.2 ± 2.1 respectively (p=0.257). Conclusion This study highlights the Mandakini’s potential in providing cost-effective offloading through pressure redistribution. Nonetheless, in barefoot conditions, SCF should remain the preferred modality. Future pressure studies on patients with diabetes will provide better representations of the Mandakini’s effectiveness on the target population.