In-shoe foot temperature patterns during lying, sitting and standing postures : baseline data from healthy individuals

Abstract

This study aimed to establish normative in-shoe plantar foot temperature patterns across three static postures—lying, sitting, and standing—in healthy individuals, providing a clinically relevant baseline for interpreting in-shoe thermograms in diabetic or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) populations. A single-center prospective study included 20 healthy adults (40 limbs; 22–74 years) who underwent vascular and neurological screening prior to data collection. Plantar temperature was continuously recorded using Tarsos® Smart Insoles with 21 embedded sensors per foot during three consecutive 10 min phases: supine, sitting, and standing. Data were analyzed for regional differences across the toes, metatarsals, arch, and heel using statistical and visual methods. Distinct posture-related temperature patterns were observed. The arch consistently exhibited the highest temperatures, while the toes remained cooler across all phases. Supine positioning resulted in relatively uniform temperature increases, whereas sitting and standing demonstrated more-stable but region-specific patterns, with slower rates of temperature change and more pronounced regional variation. Compared with barefoot thermography, the in-shoe condition showed greater heat retention and reduced evaporative cooling, highlighting the importance of context-specific baseline data. These findings demonstrate the influence of posture on plantar thermal distribution in the in-shoe environment and support the use of embedded monitoring systems for continuous assessment where surface thermography is not feasible.