Into Action: INsole TOols for ACTive learning and preventION (Into Action)

This project aims to increase the scientific knowledge and evidence-based practice regarding foot orthoses for (starting) CPO’s and for External Services for Prevention and Protection at Work (EDPBW's). Although this knowledge is available, the patient-specific design of foot orthoses and the identification of foot and ankle disorders that can be solved with foot orthoses require a great deal of expertise. This expertise is built up slowly. For companies that measure and manufacture patient-specific foot orthoses (CPO’s, podiatrists and bandagists), this means a long training trajectory and reduced productivity for starting employees. For the EDPBW’s this means a suboptimal provision of services to their customers if biomechanical problems are not quickly or inadequately addressed. In order to offer a solution to this problem, the knowledge about foot orthoses and their relationship with biomechanical complaints has been translated into two practical tools:

1) On the one hand, the knowledge about the patient-specific design of foot orthoses has been integrated in an "Insoletool" (http://www.intoactiontools.eu/) that supports students and CPO’s in the measurement and design of foot orthoses. The Insoletool features a database containing (foot) characteristics, pathologies, insole concepts and the relationship between them. The data were collected from the scientific literature and from a survey of the common practice of the orthopaedic companies in the user group. 

2) On the other hand, a "Screening tool" (Android and iOS app) was built for EDPBW’s, which allows them to screen non-sedentary employees for foot-related disorders. The tool consists of a pre-screening tool containing questions that can be answered by the employee himself. In addition, there is the screening tool that should be used by the foot expert and allows for a more extensive screening if this was recommended by the pre-screening tool.

In a validation study, in collaboration with members of the user group, 400 non-sedentary workers were screened by means of the pre-screening tool for risks of foot-related problems. Of these, 31% of employees were referred to a more extensive screening using the screening tool. In addition to screening, the tool automatically generates recommendations for the employees to reduce or prevent foot related complaints.

Via the company implementations and user feedback, the tools were improved iteratively.

In addition to the development of both tools, a biomechanical study was carried out to determine which type of sensors or measuring equipment can be linked to the screening tool. Certain questions can thus be measured objectively (quantitatively) instead of through subjective questioning. The findings have been bundled in codes of good practice. In the biomechanical study, the technological companies of the user group were closely involved.

During the project, workshops were organized for students and professionals.

More information can be found on http://www.intoaction-project.be.