The DIALECT research network is pleased to announce a new scientific publication by DIALECT doctoral candidates Hadi Sarlak and Kamran Shakir, together with Giulia Rogati, Giorgia Sartorato, Alberto Leardini, Lisa Berti, and Paolo Caravaggi. The study, published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, presents a novel modular footwear setup designed to investigate the individual biomechanical effects of different footwear features.
About the Study
Footwear plays an important role in diabetic foot care and ulcer prevention, as different footwear characteristics can influence how pressure and forces are distributed across the foot. However, because footwear combines several features, it can be difficult to determine the effect of each individual component.
The researchers developed a modular footwear setup that makes it possible to modify specific footwear features while keeping the other characteristics unchanged. This provides a controlled way to study how individual design features affect foot biomechanics.
Why This Matters
A better understanding of how specific footwear features affect biomechanics can support the development of more effective and evidence-based footwear for people at risk of diabetic foot complications.
The modular setup also provides a useful platform for future studies, allowing researchers to test different footwear configurations in a systematic way and identify which features have the greatest biomechanical impact.
A Contribution from the DIALECT PhD Candidates
This publication represents an important contribution from DIALECT doctoral candidates Hadi Sarlak and Kamran Shakir, whose research focuses on improving footwear solutions and prevention strategies for diabetic foot complications.
By developing a flexible method for studying footwear biomechanics, their work contributes to the broader DIALECT goal of advancing evidence-based approaches to diabetic foot ulcer prevention.
Read the Full Study
The full article, “Development of a Novel Modular Footwear Setup for Testing the Isolated Biomechanical Effects of Footwear Features,” is available in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research.
👉 Read the full paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jfa2.70203
Congratulations to the authors on this valuable contribution to footwear biomechanics and diabetic foot research.