The absence of plantar sensory feedback results in reduced plantar pressure variability

Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic that often results in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). DPN may lead to reduced plantar pressure variability, and this lower variability may cause localized tissue loading and subsequent foot ulceration. The purpose of this study was to use anesthetize the plantar foot via tibial nerve blocks to examine the role of plantar sensory feedback in plantar pressure variability. Plantar pressure variability was assessed in 19 healthy individuals with intact sensory feedback and with the plantar surface of the foot anesthetized via tibial nerve block. The absence of plantar sensation resulted in significantly lower variability in the ratio of fore- and rear-foot loading, indicating that the absence of plantar sensory feedback results in less variable plantar loading.