Effects of insole interventions on redistribution of peak plantar pressure during walking tasks: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective This study systematically evaluated the effects of insole interventions on peak plantar pressure (PP) redistribution across different foot zones during walking, and preliminarily identified potential compensatory patterns. Methods Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we searched seven databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP) from inception through March 15, 2026. Results Of 4603 articles identified, 16 studies were included. Methodological quality was generally good (56.3% grade A, 43.7% grade B). Meta-analysis showed that insole intervention significantly reduced PP in the forefoot (MD = −30.47, 95% CI [−48.34, −12.61]) and rearfoot (MD = −31.88, 95% CI [−59.06, −4.69]), while significantly increasing PP in the midfoot (MD = 33.96, 95% CI [13.85, 54.07]). The pooled estimate for all three regions indicated a general downward trend in PP (MD = −27.39, 95% CI [−43.59, −11.19]). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the main findings. Conclusion During walking, insoles primarily induce regional redistribution of plantar pressure rather than uniform pressure reduction. The typical pattern involves decreased peak pressure in the forefoot and rearfoot with increased peak pressure in the midfoot, yielding an overall downward trend. Current evidence supports a consistent load redistribution effect of insoles during walking. However, given the high heterogeneity among included studies, further high-quality research is warranted to verify the effect magnitude and identify the appropriate target population.