Diabetes Status is Associated With Plantar Soft Tissue Stiffness Measured Using Ultrasound Reverberant Shear Wave Elastography Approach.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the mechanical properties of plantar soft tissue and diabetes status.

Method: 51 (M/F: 21/30) participants with prediabetes onset (fasting blood sugar [FBS] level > 100 mg/dL), age >18 years, and no lower limb amputation were recruited after ethical approval was granted from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru ethical review board. Ultrasound reverberant shear wave elastography was used to assess the soft tissue stiffness at the 1st metatarsal head (MTH), 3rd MTH, and the heel at both feet.