Jason Hanft, a podiatrist paired up with former Nike designer Michael DiTullo to create a fashionable shoe that is clinically certified to protect limbs from diabetic ulcers.
This initiative is taken when almost 130,000 out of 200,000 people in the U.S. suffer from diabetic amputations each year. Likewise, ulcers develop on the bottom of the people’s feet, pressurized by their body weight which is less likely to heal.
Moreover, the product Foot Defender took over four years to develop. The price of this medical boot is around $250 and has an easy slip-on design without any complicated laces. Similarly, this shoe helps to redistribute the weight of the foot as 83% of the diabetic wounds happen across the ball of the foot. The medical boot, Foot Defender helps remove pressure from the foot at the same time.
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Additionally, when the product was tried on patients it was concluded that 80% of the patients healed in an average of five weeks. Whereas, in comparison, only 21% of the wounds heal in almost 12 weeks with normal clinical treatment. Similarly, this product can help save around 80,000 limbs each year in the U.S.
Furthermore, this shoe is different from a typical sneaker as it pushes the balls of the feet and helps to maintain balance in the direction of your feet. Likewise, a heel drop of 2mm in the shoe also helps to elevate the wounds to release the pressure. In addition to the balance and pressure release, the product also incorporates a large injection-molded shell to support the leg and the heel. This helps to lock through the ankle and prevents from leaning forward. Likewise, the molded carbon fiber also provides support to the knees and toes.
A podiatrist and Nike’s former designer team up to prevent 80,000 #diabetes-related amputations with their new, stylish, easy-to-use medical boot.
— Berci Meskó, MD, PhD (@Berci) May 27, 2022
Moving on, to add comfort the designer has used an EVA foam along with a layer of gelatinous material. To add a fashionable look to a clinical shoe, the designer managed to use a softer outer layer upon the injected molded hard plastic parts to avoid the clinical look. Similarly, the addition of a flat cup sole helps to keep the patient’s foot flat, minimizing the pressure on the wound.
The company, Nike itself has mentioned that the components used in this medical shoe help to reduce force by 80% on the feet. Likewise, it is planning to validate the product further after an extensive review next year. Moreover, the product has already won an award at the Advanced Wound Care Symposium earlier this year. Similarly, the designer has shown concern to further work on the product and try to develop it into the one that helps to eradicate the chances of ulcers’ recurrence.
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Conclusively, this product would largely help diabetic patients not only in the US but around the globe.