Common Foot Pathomechanics

Assistant Professor/ Biomedical Technolgy Department College of Applied Medical Sciences Foot Biomechanics Consultant and Head Foot Unit Diabetic Center/ King Absulaziz University Hospital King Saud University Riyad, Saudi ArabiaDiabetic is a serious disease that can develop from the lack of insulin production in the body or due to the body’s insulin inability to perform its normal daily function.Diabetic Mellitus effects approximately 15% of the population over the age of 65 in developed countries.(1) Twenty to fifty percent of people with diabetes of more than 10 years will experience symmetrical distal sensory neuropathy resulting in loss of sensation in lower extremity.(2) This will lead to weight bearing abnormality under the foot in the long run resulting in ulceration. Foot ulceration is the most common cause of amputation in diabetic patients.(3) Eighty five percent (85%) of diabetes related lower extremity amputations are preceded by ulceration. Increased dynamic foot pressures is among the identified risk factors in the formation of diabetic foot ulcer.(4-11) Foot related hospital admission constitutes twenty percent (20%) of all diabetic patients who enter the hospital. Foot care and patient shoe gear are the initial standard treatment protocol for diabetic feet at risk(12). The diabetic foot constitutes a real economic problem, the total cost for the diabetic foot in the USA is estimated to be 4,000,000,000. dollars annually.(13