Comfort and plantar pressure pattern during running with prefabricated insoles

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plantar pressure pattern and wearing comfort of five different prefabricated insoles. Therefore wearing comfort was assessed by a questionnaire and the use of a visual analogue scale (VAS) and plantar pressure was measured by a Pedar-X system. For statistical analysis single factor ANOVA for repeated measurements, Bonferroni and Pearson correlation test were performed. Significant differences in comfort ratings and average maximum plantar pressure were found. A relationship between average plantar pressure and comfort could not be detected. Nevertheless prefabricated insoles are able to improve wearing comfort of running shoes. Additional parameters like insole hardness and/or flexibility might also influence wearing comfort and seems to modulate the plantar pressure pattern during running.