Evaluation of Two Heel Protection Devices to Assess Off-loading Via Pressure Mapping.

Pressure injuries to the heel remain a major concern for immobile or limited mobility patients, as the heel is one of the highest risk sites for tissue breakdown. Offloading boots are widely used to redistribute lower extremity pressure and minimize concentrated forces at the heel. Internal Medline studies and industry literature reinforce the clinical relevance of pressure mapping to quantify heel offloading effectiveness across devices. Prior work has shown that heel offloading boots can differ widely in their ability to reduce pressure at the heel and ankle joint region. This study will quantitatively compare the heel off-loading capabilities of the Medline HeelMedix® Basic Heel Boot (hereafter referred to as HeelMedix® Basic) and the EHOB Foot Waffle Protector (hereafter referred to as EHOB Waffle) using pressure mapping in healthy volunteers. The data from this study design will allow for a comparative assessment of the heel offloading capabilities between two heel offloading boots.