Effects of prefabricated and custom-made foot orthoses on skin temperature of the foot soles after running

Abstract

Objective: Foot orthoses are increasingly used by runners despite the controversy about whether their use can reduce the risk of overuse injuries. Some authors have found modifications in plantar pressures with the use of foot orthoses, which could produce changes in the surface skin temperature of the foot soles. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of custom-made and prefabricated foot orthoses on the skin temperature of different regions of both foot soles after running. Approach: Twenty-four participants carried out a maximal aerobic speed test as a pre-test, and three running tests at the laboratory wearing different foot orthoses conditions (control, prefabricated and custom-made) previously randomized. Skin temperature of four regions of interest of the foot soles was assessed before, immediately after and ten minutes after running. Main results: The use of prefabricated and custom-made foot orthoses did not produce changes on skin temperature of the foot soles neither in absolute temperatures (p > 0.05), nor in temperature variations: between immediately after and before running (p > 0.05), and between ten minutes after and immediately after running (p > 0.05). Otherwise, higher values were found with no insoles than with prefabricated foot orthoses, 10 min after running in relation to before running, in forefoot [mean (standard deviation): 5.6 (2.4) versus 3.7 (2.7) °C; p = 0.02; effect size (ESd) = 0.72], midfoot [3.7 (1.5) versus 2.7 (1.5) °C; p = 0.03; ESd = 0.65] and rearfoot [4.18 (2.05) versus 2.9 (1.82) °C; p = 0.02; ESd = 0.64)]. Significance: In conclusion, the use of foot orthoses, in general, does not affect the surface skin temperature of the foot soles after an intense run.