Plantar Pressure Research for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

June 21, 2025

A recent study titled *"Reliability of F-Scan® in-shoe plantar pressure measurements in people with diabetes at risk of developing foot ulcers"* has just been published in *The Foot*. This gave us the perfect opportunity to speak with one of the authors of the paper, Dr. Ulla Hellstrand Tang, about her extensive research into preventing diabetic foot ulcers. Over the years, Dr. Tang has noticed some significant changes in both research and treatment approaches. She identified three key trends, which sometimes seem contradictory: 1. There's a growing demand for high-quality prevention and care for diabetic foot issues, yet resources remain limited. 2. There’s an increasing need for validated and reliable evaluations of foot conditions, such as pressure measurements. 3. However, the time required to perform accurate pressure measurements isn’t always available in clinical settings. Additionally, the cost of necessary equipment often needs justification, and professionals require additional training to effectively integrate these systems into their practices. Given the vast number of people at risk for diabetic foot ulcers—hundreds of millions globally according to the World Diabetes Foundation—it’s clear why Dr. Tang remains committed to this field. Her journey began 42 years ago when she started working as a podiatrist with the goal of improving the care pathways for individuals living with diabetes. She believes even small interventions at the right moment can significantly impact individuals’ lives. Visualizing pressure maps has proven to be a powerful tool in discussions with patients regarding orthotics and appropriate footwear. When asked why she chose the F-Scan system for her research, Dr. Tang explained that she first encountered Tekscan at a conference in the late '90s. Later, moving to Gothenburg, she joined the Department of Prosthetics & Orthotics at Sahlgrenska University Hospital where colleagues like Roy Tranberg and Roland Zügner were already utilizing the F-Scan system. Since then, over 500 measurements have been conducted using this technology to evaluate plantar pressure in diabetic patients. Her latest research focuses on the reliability of sensor placements during these measurements. She emphasized that higher sensor resolution plays a crucial role in accurately identifying where sensors should be placed. Dr. Tang firmly believes that pressure mapping could become a valuable clinical tool for treating and preventing diabetic foot ulcers. For widespread adoption, she suggests integrating these tools seamlessly into existing electronic health records and ensuring they are user-friendly. Mobile equipment is certainly a step forward, but making them accessible and practical in everyday clinical settings remains a challenge. Looking ahead, Dr. Tang is interested in exploring integrated eHealth systems capable of capturing various aspects of patient behavior, movement, and lifestyle—including self-monitoring data—to develop predictive models and self-management tools powered by artificial intelligence. However, she stresses that enhancing personalization and boosting professional competence across all healthcare disciplines must remain top priorities for policymakers. --- **About Ulla Hellstrand Tang** *Current Research Areas* - A decade-long study tracking gait, lower limb function, plantar pressure, and foot status among diabetic patients fitted with different types of insoles. - D-Foot, an eHealth platform designed for risk stratification and foot assessment in diabetic patients. [www.dfoot.se](http://www.dfoot.se) - Assistive Devices – Vision 2025, an initiative mapping current and future needs for assistive devices in diabetes care. Topics include digital/manual foot screenings and organizing device distribution. - Silicon orthoses as a treatment for heel cracks: a randomized controlled trial comparing silicon orthoses plus moisturizers versus moisturizers alone. - Sustainable healthcare practices in diabetes foot care, including publications like *[Sustainable Healthcare with Application of the Care of the Diabetic Foot](https://gup.ub.gu.se/publication/285281)* and *[Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention in the Digital Age](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7445797/)*. - Digital innovation challenges and opportunities leading toward "Vision 2025 Digital Healthcare in Sweden." - Establishing a national quality registry for the diabetic foot. - MyFootDiabetes, an app aimed at enabling self-screening of feet for people with diabetes. [www.myfootdiabetes.se](http://www.myfootdiabetes.se) - Hoj17/Bike4DIab, a cycling tour promoting foot health in diabetes. Covering 2,500 kilometers over 90 days, the tour included educational events and media coverage. Highlights included TV4’s feature on minimizing amputations in diabetic patients. [Link to TV4 story](http://www.tv4.se/nyheterna/klipp/ny-forskning-kan-leda-till-f%C3%A4rre…). - Advocacy work in health policy focusing on sustainable foot health in diabetes through prevention and care. Collaborations include diabetes associations, delivering speeches and workshops centered around “sustainable foot health in diabetes.” For more information, visit [Dr. Ulla Hellstrand Tang's profile](https://www.gu.se/en/about/find-staff/c54cf772-f548-4a17-9fc2-85a1124dddb2). --- *(Note: Minor adjustments were made to ensure authenticity and readability while maintaining original intent.)*

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