Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of shoes with curved out-sole on the pressure, reaction force(sum of pressure) on foot and relations between the rolling speeds and pronation of foot. The foot pressure, reaction force and pressure center on the foot surface of shoe were measured with NOVEL padar system, and 3 type shoes were used to compare the position and speed of pressure center and the foot reaction force, which were s(target) shoe with soft cushions in middle part of out-sole and curved out-sole, m shoes with two type- soft, hard, hardness out-sole and curved out-sole and n shoes with flat out-sole. The subjects were 13 female university students, had weared the 3 type shoes for 6 weeks on two-weeks shifts for adaptation before experiment and put on 3-type shoes repeatedly and randomly and walked on treadmill with 3.5km/h and 80 steps/min. The data were captured with 30Hz and readjusted with 5kgf threshold reaction force. The results can be summarized as follow. 1. There were no difference in maximum reaction force on initial contact period and total foot impact, but statistical difference in maximum reaction force on takeoff period : s, m, n in ascending order. 2. There were some difference in rolling speeds for support periods. At initial contact, the rolling speed of s shoes was fastest but at periods between first and second maximum reaction force, that of m shoes fastest. 3. There was a negative relation between rolling speeds and the length of lever arm on initial reaction force related to pronation. It seems shoes with various curved shapes and hardness could make effects on the rolling features and the rolling speed also have some relationships with walking efficiency, absortion of impact and pronation.