Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41800176›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology2026

Is palpation essential in the digital era of orthotic designing?

Komal Chhikara, Scott Morrison, Marie-Luise Wille, Buddhi Herath, Kerrie Evans, Dean Hartley, Müge Belek Fialho Teixeira, Bridget Hughes, Natalie Haskell, Amanda Beatson and 3 more

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Article in Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Komal ChhikaraSchool of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Scott MorrisoniOrthotics, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Marie-Luise WilleSchool of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Buddhi HerathSchool of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Kerrie EvansHealthia Limited, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Dean HartleyiOrthotics, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Müge Belek Fialho TeixeiraSchool of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Bridget HughesSchool of Education, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education, and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Natalie HaskellSchool of Design, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Amanda BeatsonQUT Business School, Centre for Decent Work and Industry (CDWI), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Marianella Chamorro-KocSchool of Design, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Judith Paige LittleSchool of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Sinduja SureshSchool of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Custom foot orthotics require identification of anatomical landmarks in the foot to facilitate accurate alignment and precise foot measurements. Traditionally, these landmarks are identified through manual palpation, however, with the advent of digital scanning, it may not be necessary. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether guidance from manual palpation to identify anatomical landmarks affects (a) reliability of foot measurements and (b) consistency in digitally designed orthotic insoles. Methods: For reliability, 3D foot scans were obtained under non-weight-bearing (NWB) (n = 24) and weight-bearing (WB) (n = 24) conditions from 12 healthy adult participants (9 females and 3 males; age 29 ± 4 years; height 164 ± 8 cm; weight 60 ± 6 kg). 15 key dorsal and plantar foot measurements were extracted based on the palpation-guided and scan-derived landmarks. Following this, a preliminary assessment of orthotic design consistency was evaluated using a reference participant (n = 1), with 24 orthotic insoles designed (3 designers designed insoles using scan-derived and palpation-guided landmarks (by 3 podiatrists), in NWB and WB). Results: Intra- and inter-user reliability of palpation-guided landmarks were good to excellent (ICC = 0.90-1). Measurements for scan-derived landmarking showed good to excellent intra-user reliability (0.83-0.92) but poor to moderate inter-user reliability (0.31-0.75) for clinically relevant plantar measurements. Discussion: While palpation improves landmark reliability, translating these into consistent orthotic designs requires clinical expertise and standardised design workflows. Palpation, while not always essential, improves landmarking identification in variable clinical conditions. Collaborative training and further studies across varied clinician and designer experience levels are essential to optimize digital orthotic design.

Indexed as

3D scanningfootlandmarksorthoticspalpation

Identifiers

PMID41800176
PMCPMC12960551

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