Table 3.

Advantages and disadvantages of barefoot and in‐shoe pressure assessment methods

Assessment type	Advantages	Disadvantages
Barefoot	Easy to use Durable Embedded in floor to allow normal gait Allows assessment of “base” plantar pressure development without footwear	Restricted to laboratories Requires familiarisation to ensure natural gait Can be limited by patient's ability to make contact with the platform Requires multiple trials Walking barefoot presents a risk to diabetic neuropathy patients Does not account for pressure‐reducing nature of footwear
In‐shoe	Portable system Allows multiple footsteps per trial Less risk to the diabetic foot Allows assessment of pressure‐reducing nature of footwear	Majority of systems involve the participant being tethered by cables Possibility of sensor slipping and becoming damaged