INTOACTION

Goal

The purpose of this project was to enable orthotists to build expertise faster in order to address foot and non-foot related biomechanical problems with the help of insoles 2. The following goals were worked on for this purpose:

• Creating a database of existing scientific evidence and current clinical practice around prescribing and producing foot orthoses.
• Developing a screening tool and an insole tool and teaching orthopedic companies and external prevention services (EDPBWs) to work with them 2.

Relevance

The tools currently available for making insoles are mainly based on the shape of the foot (measuring tapes, scanners) or the pressure under the foot (pressure plates, podoscopes, blueprints). However, literature shows that many symptoms such as knee, hip, ankle, and back pain can be prevented or alleviated by insoles 2.

Currently, orthotists have to rely on their own expertise in making insoles. Existing tools, often brochures or training, often only provide the link between back pain and lifting methods or posture. This project aims, among other things, to ensure that this expertise can be gained more quickly and that as many relevant aspects as possible are taken into account in a scientifically substantiated manner 2.

The screening tool takes into account the biomechanics of the entire body and establishes a connection between symptoms and insoles 

Our role

Our role in this project was to develop the database and tools. The researchers from Mobilab & Care also relied on a guidance group that included some experienced orthotists

Results

• A database was created that inventories the existing scientific evidence and current clinical practice related to prescribing and producing foot orthoses. The database contains a vast amount of data with foot characteristics, pathology, and sole concepts and the relationship between them.
• Two tools were developed: a screening tool (mobile app) to identify the risk of foot-, knee-, hip-, and back-related disorders and an insole tool (responsive website: IntoActionTools.eu) to design patient-specific insoles based on clinical and scientific evidence.
• The screening tool was tested in practice in collaboration with external prevention services (EDPBW) and companies with standing employees.
• The insole tool was tested in practice by orthopedic companies.
• In a parallel study, it was investigated to what extent wearables and measuring equipment could be used in the screening of foot-related disorders. Several technological companies were involved in the study.