The DIALECT research network is pleased to announce a new scientific publication by DIALECT doctoral candidate Alessandro Vicentini, together with Marieke A. Mens, Arjan Malekzadeh, Jaap J. van Netten, Mario Maas, and Sicco A. Bus. The study, published in BMC Biomedical Engineering, systematically reviews the techniques currently used to measure the mechanical and morphological properties of plantar foot soft tissues.
About the Study
The soft tissues beneath the foot play an important role in absorbing and distributing mechanical loads during everyday activities. Changes in these tissues can affect how pressure is distributed across the foot and may contribute to the development of diabetic foot complications. Reliable methods for measuring tissue properties are therefore important for understanding foot health and identifying potential risk factors for ulceration.
The review evaluated the reliability, validity, and repeatability of existing techniques used to assess plantar soft tissues. Following PRISMA guidelines, the researchers screened more than 4,000 studies and included 37 studies in the final review.
Key Findings
The review identified a wide range of techniques for assessing plantar soft tissue properties, including ultrasound, MRI, CT, indentation-based methods, elastography, and other approaches.
Among the techniques reviewed, ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE) had the most comprehensive evidence supporting their measurement properties. Ultrasound showed good to excellent reliability for assessing morphological properties, while SWE demonstrated excellent intra-rater reliability and strong validity for assessing mechanical properties.
At the same time, the study highlights important limitations. Only a small number of studies had assessed validity, and differences in measurement protocols and statistical methods make it difficult to compare results between studies. Factors such as probe positioning, pressure, inclination, and the amount of coupling gel used can also influence measurements.
Why This Matters
Accurate assessment of plantar soft tissue properties could help researchers better understand the mechanisms behind diabetic foot complications and support the development of more targeted prevention strategies.
The findings suggest that standardised measurement protocols are needed to improve consistency across studies and strengthen the evidence behind these techniques. In the longer term, reliable quantitative measurements could contribute to improved monitoring of plantar tissue health and the identification of people at increased risk of foot ulceration.
Recognizing Contributions
This publication represents an important contribution from DIALECT PhD candidate Alessandro Vicentini and his collaborators. By systematically evaluating the tools available for measuring plantar soft tissues, the study provides a valuable foundation for future research into diabetic foot disease and its prevention.
Read the Full Study
The article, “Quantifying mechanical and morphological properties of plantar foot soft tissues: a systematic review of techniques, methods and their clinimetric properties,” was published in BMC Biomedical Engineering on 7 March 2026 and is available open access.
👉 Read the full paper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42490-026-00106-x
Congratulations to Alessandro Vicentini and all co-authors on this valuable contribution to diabetic foot research and the understanding of plantar tissue health.