José Manuel Castillo-López

Background: The selection of appropriate footwear during childhood is crucial for healthy foot development, gait acquisition, and long-term musculoskeletal health. Despite the wide variety of children’s footwear available, there is no clear consensus on the optimal characteristics of footwear that supports healthy foot biomechanics during development. Biomechanically appropriate pediatric footwear (PF) is defined as footwear designed to accommodate the child’s foot morphology during growth, allow natural movement, and provide appropriate support and stability without altering physiological gait patterns. Methods: A systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 Statement and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022337587). The search included studies published between 2010 and 2025 in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Dialnet, focusing on preschool (2–6 years) and school-age (6–12 years) children. Younger children (12 years) were excluded due to gait and footwear data and developmental differences that could confound comparisons. Studies evaluating the effects of footwear on foot health, gait mechanics, balance, and functional outcomes were included. Results: A total of 1276 studies were identified, with 25 meeting the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that certain footwear characteristics have been associated with foot discomfort, altered gait patterns, and variations in foot posture. While some studies suggest that barefoot walking or minimalist footwear improves postural control and reduces lower-limb impact forces during gait, others report that footwear does not significantly alter gait mechanics in young children. Variability in study designs and methodologies limits the ability to establish definitive recommendations. Conclusions: Although current evidence remains inconclusive due to methodological heterogeneity, variations in study populations, and inconsistent footwear classifications, biomechanically appropriate pediatric footwear and moderately minimalist footwear appear to be associated with more favorable functional outcomes in several studies. Further standardized longitudinal and age-specific studies with clearly defined footwear characteristics are needed to determine the long-term effects of pediatric footwear on foot biomechanics and musculoskeletal development.

The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship foot pain and foot disability have with HRQoL in groups of women with RA, SLE and EDS, in comparison with a control group. A cross-sectional study was carried out with females with one of these conditions and a control group. The SF-12 questionnaire was used to collect data about quality of life. The type of foot was classified according to the footprint and the foot posture index. A total of 156 patients and 47 controls participated in the study (N = 203). Neither pain nor foot posture were different between groups. The physical and mental components of SF-12 were worse in rheumatoid arthritis and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome patients, and the physical component was worse in systemic lupus erythematosus patients, compared to controls. A significant difference was also observed in the mental component between systemic lupus erythematosus and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome patients, the latter having the lowest values among the groups. We can conclude that women with rheumatoid arthritis, Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus and foot pain perceive a worse quality of life. There are no significant changes in foot posture. Pain and health-related quality of life are independent of foot posture.

Objective: The aims that we set in this study were to analyse the kinematic and kinetic changes in the lower limbs of cyclists when using the utility model, nº of publication ES 1078023, which consists of a system of cleats with an exact omnidirectional adjustment and without oscillations between the shoe and the pedal. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental, longitudinal and prospective study with a non-randomized sampling. The sample was made up of 34 cyclists. The variables studies focused on the kinematics of each joint of the lower limb in three planes and the kinetics in the function of the angular position of the cleat. They had the Bioval^® system put in place, through which the kinematic parameters were recorded at the points marked on the lower limb for 20 s. Three systems were used for the kinetics (Power Tap, Rotor and Pioneer), recording the power developed for 1 min for each of the study situations. Results: Regarding the kinematic variables, statistically significant differences were found for the three planes in all of the structures studied. As for the kinetics, statistically significant differences were also observed, both when analyzing them globally and when doing so for each of the systems. Conclusions: The variation in the rotational position of the cleat influences both the cyclist’s kinematics and dynamics.

Clubfoot is a common congenital deformity of the lower limbs. It should be treated as soon as possible so that its correction is more easily achieved. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of the Ponseti method in the treatment of clubfoot. A bibliographic search was carried out in different databases, including PubMed and SciELO. Filters such as full text and randomized controlled trial were selected to find those articles that best matched our search. Among the results, we selected the ones that interested us, and the rest were discarded, either because they did not meet the requirements for our work or because they were repeated. In total, we collected 19 articles, but after using the critical evaluation instrument CASPe, 7 of them were eliminated, leaving us with a total of 12 articles for our systematic review. After analyzing the results obtained in the selected articles, we concluded that the Ponseti method is effective in the treatment of clubfoot, presenting a high success rate.

Techniques of taking casts mainly rely not on the objectivity of the procedure, but on the experience and skill of the technician. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficiency of a technique of taking standing foot casts controlled via pressure sensors. In this way, we mean to objectivize the degree of correction. The study was carried out through 150 procedures on 50 feet of 29 patients. The value of the “Heel Symmetry Index” was calculated on three casts in three different situations of the same foot: A first cast in which the subject did not control the position of his/her foot; a second cast where manipulations corrected the foot’s pronator position; and a third cast with pressure sensors placed in the subject’s heel. This enabled the control and quantification of the pressure during the manipulation when taking the cast. The comparison of the “Heel Symmetry Index” in the different groups showed significant p-values of 0.05. Conclusion: The technique of taking casts controlled by pressure sensors achieved more equilibrated casts with a better symmetry index of the heel’s outline.

The study of the foot is relevant in kinematic analyses of gait. Images captured through a lens can be subjected to various aberrations or distortions that affect the measurements. An in vitro study was performed with a rearfoot simulator to compare the apparent degrees (photographed) with the real ones (placed in the simulator) in the plane of the rearfoot’s orientation, according to variations in the capture angle in other planes of space (the sagittal plane and transverse plane—the latter determined by the foot progression angle). The following regression formula was calculated to correct the distortion of the image: real frontal plane = 0.045 + (1.014 × apparent frontal plane) − (0.018 × sagittal plane × foot progression angle). Considering the results of this study, and already knowing its angle in the transverse and sagittal planes, it is possible to determine the angle of a simulated calcaneus with respect to the ground in the frontal plane, in spite of distortions caused by perspective and the lack of perpendicularity, by applying the above regression formula. The results show that the angular measurements of a body segment made on frames can produce erroneous data due to the variation in the perspective from which the image is taken. This distortion must be considered when determining the real values of the measurements.

Los objetivos de este trabajo son determinar y analizar las lesiones y los hábitos más frecuentes en triatletas durante el desarrollo de una prueba. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo, observacional, transversal y retrospectivo. La muestra la componen 84 participantes (76 hombres y 8 mujeres) que participaron en el XVII Triatlón de Sevilla (Categorías Super Sprint, Sprint y Olímpica). Se pasaron dos cuestionarios, uno antes y otro posterior a la prueba, en los que se registraron entre otras las variables: antecedentes de lesiones deportivas, tratamientos previos, incidencias y lesiones ocurridas durante la prueba, etc. Los triatletas sufren una alta incidencia de lesiones podológicas dérmicas durante la práctica deportiva, el 65% sufrió lesión en el pie, de las que 27,5% fueron ampollas y el 30% fueron heridas. El 72,4% de los participantes en la distancia Olímpica presentó ampollas en los pies. El 50% de los participantes sufrieron lesiones deportivas a lo largo de su trayectoria como triatleta, siendo el pie, la rodilla y la pierna, las zonas más lesionadas. Según estos datos es necesario desarrollar un Programa de Salud podológica para triatletas.

Background: Onychocryptosis is one of the most prevailing onychopathies and one of the usual reasons for visiting podiatry clinics. In this research, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of a procedure of nail reeducation technique via a strip of polyethylene in subjects with stage I or IIa onychocryptosis, in which pathological toenail curves are present. Methods: This research was a randomized clinical trial (ACTRN12615000834550). The sample was made up of 94 cases of stage I or IIa onychocryptosis, according to the Mozena classification. Briefly, 46 cases were treated with the combination of a spicule technique and nail brace with a polyethylene plastic strip, and 48 were only treated with the spicule technique. Results: The combination of the spicule technique and the nail brace technique with a strip of polyethylene had a significantly lower recurrence rate compared to that achieved with just the spicule technique, twelve months after the beginning of the study (N.S. = 0.000 for α = 0.05). The change in the nail width achieved with the nail brace technique, twelve months after the beginning of the study, was statistically significant (N.S. = 0.000 for α = 0.05). Conclusions: The recurrence rate of the spicule technique alone was significantly higher than the combined technique of spicule with nail brace. A nail brace with a strip of polyethylene reduces the recurrence rate of onychocryptosis.

Background: Pain and fatigue are major clinical manifestations in patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). The aim of this study is to measure change of the effects of custom-made foot orthotics on some manifestations related to EDS, such as foot pain, foot functionality, fatigue, and quality of life. Methods: Thirty-six patients with EDS wore foot orthoses for three months. Foot pain, foot-related disability, foot functionality, fatigue, and quality of life were measured using the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale, the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index, the Foot Function Index, the Fatigue Severity Score, and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaires, respectively, at the beginning and after 3 months. Results: Participants demonstrated significantly improved foot pain (p = 0.002), disability related to foot pain (p < 0.001), foot functionality (p = 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.007), and mental health-related quality of life (p = 0.016). The physical health-related quality of life did not show significant changes. Conclusions: The use of custom-made foot orthoses help in the management of the symptoms by participants. This study could contribute to the foot specialists being considered as an additional member in multidisciplinary teams that are trying to develop an approach for patients with EDS.

PurposeThis study aims at verifying whether proprioception is abnormal or not, two weeks after a grade 1 and 2 ankle sprain in the scope of work-related accident.MethodsA descriptive, observation and transversal study was designed to compare speed, movement and oscilation of centre of pressure in employees of companies signed up to a mutual company. Participants’ healthy feet comprised the control group, and feet that had undergone an ankle sprain due to a work-related accident comprised the cases group. The following stability tests were undertaken to both the healthy and injuried feet using a force plate: Monopodal Romberg test with eyes open, Monopodal Romberg test with eyes open on a 30 mm thick foam rubber, Monopodal Romberg test with eyes closed, and Romberg test as monopodal support with eyes closed on a 30 mm thick foam rubber. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. From the results of this regression model the COR curve test was performed.Results71.7% accuracy in the predictions was attained. The equation was as follows:Condition (injured or healthy)=0.052⋅%RGC AP Movement − 0.81⋅MREO AP Movement. The variable MREO antero-posterior movement was used in the COR curve methodology. The area under the curve was greater than 0.65 and at a 95% confidence interval the 0.75 value was included, which in our case was the injured subject condition. Values for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 0.667, 0.633, 64.5%, and 65.5%, respectively.ConclusionThe participants in this study showed a diminished capacity for postural control in an ankle two weeks after an ankle sprain.