This study will address the following question: Can a low-cost technology for measuring baropodometry, undertaken at the community / primary care levels, help design personalized MCR footwear that reduces the risk of new ulcers among people affected by leprosy with a history of plantar ulcers?

Personalised footwear for foot ulcers in leprosy by baropodometry through an innovative community engagement model

Project coordination

• LEPRA Society, India

Partners

• Sivananda Rehabilitation Home
• Damien Foundation India Trust
• Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL)
• Office of Additional District Medical Health Officer
• LEPRA

Project summary

Foot ulcers prevent people from walking and carrying out their daily duties, which impacts their income and well-being. If left untreated they can lead to permanent disability. Foot ulcers/wounds are common complications of leprosy. Their occurrence must be prevented to reduce the burden of disabilities among these individuals. Ulcers develop at points of high repetitive pressure on people’s feet, for example when walking. This is especially problematic for people affected by leprosy who have lost sensation in their feet.

A simple method of measuring foot pressure points involves the patient walking over a piece of paper after applying ink to their feet. This is known as using a Harris mat and is suitable for use in low-resource community settings. Footprints that are recorded using a Harris mat can then be visually enhanced on a computer using the software. The research group proposes to trial the use of these visualisations to produce special footwear for people affected by leprosy that will be tailor-made to reduce their pressure points and prevent ulcers.

People affected by leprosy will be involved in recording their footprints using Harris mats in their communities. Their footprints will then be sent to their local clinic, where customised footwear will be developed for each individual, in accordance with the specific measurements and pressure points of their feet.

The project aims to assess the benefits of this approach by recording the number and duration of ulcers that people affected by leprosy experience. The experiences of two groups of affected people will be compared over a 12-month period – one group will receive shoes that have been custom-made using the enhanced Harris mat visualisations of their footprints and pressure points; the second group will receive shoes that have been custom-made according to standard measuring procedures.