PONE-D-24-19378Finite element analysis of the plantar support for the medial longitudinal arch with flexible flatfootPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Zhang,

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Kentaro Amaha

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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Additional Editor Comments:

Please correct the reviewer's point. Also, the results of insoles on flat feet have been studied in many ways. Please describe in more detail what can be expected clinically from this study.

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Dear Author,

I would like to start my review by expressing my pleasure in examining your work. Your identification of the appropriate loading rate in your study is particularly important for conservative treatment.

Your work is a biomechanical study. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to discuss foot biomechanics and the problems caused by orthoses with improper loading rather than orthoses in the introduction section.

The objective of your study differs between the introduction and discussion sections. These parts should be consistent. Is your study about determining the shape of insoles to be made with proper body loading, or is it a biomechanical study in which you identify the body weight ratio that best supports the medial longitudinal arch? You need to clarify this.

It is very good that you have mentioned your limitations. However, it would be more informative and guiding if you also write down the reasons for these limitations.

Respectfully

Reviewer #2: This study found that applying 15% of body-weight-bearing to the sole of the foot can restore the height fall of the medial longitudinal arch, and relieve the equivalent articular stress of the talonavicular joint and the talocalcaneal joint as well as the tension stress of the tibiocalcaneal ligament and the posterior tibiotalar ligament. But this study is not novel enough to be accepted.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Finite element analysis of the plantar support for the medial longitudinal arch with flexible flatfoot

PONE-D-24-19378R1

Dear Dr. Zhang,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Kentaro Amaha

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE