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http://dx.doi.org/10.5103/KJSB.2012.22.1.113

Effects of Forefoot Rocker Shoes with Metatarsal Bar on Lower Extremity Muscle Activity and Plantar Pressure Distribution  

Park, In-Sik (Department of Healthcare Engineering, Graduate School of Chonbuk National University)
Jung, Ji-Yong (Department of Healthcare Engineering, Graduate School of Chonbuk National University)
Jeon, Keun-Hwan (Department of Healthcare Engineering, Graduate School of Chonbuk National University)
Won, Yong-Gwan (School of Electronics and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Chonnam National University)
Kim, Jung-Ja (Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Chonbuk National University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics / v.22, no.1, 2012 , pp. 113-121 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of forefoot rocker shoes equipped with a metatarsal bar on lower extremity muscle activity and plantar pressure distribution. Ten healthy women in the age of twenties were participated in this study as the subjects. All subjects walked on a treadmill(Gait Trainer, BIODEX, USA) wearing normal shoes and metatarsal bar shoes, during which the plantar pressure distribution and muscle activity were measured. Using Pedar-X system(Novel Gmbh, Germany), the plantar pressure was measured for six regions of the foot: forefoot, midfoot, rearfoot, 1st metatarsal, 2-3th metatarsal, and 4-5th metatarsal, and for each sub-region, 4 features such as maximum force, contact area, peak pressure, and mean pressure were analyzed based on the plantar pressure. EMG(Electromyography) activity was measured by attaching surface electrodes to the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius medial head, and magnitude of muscle contraction was analyzed in IEMG(Integrated EMG) value. The results show that the maximum force, contact area, peak pressure, and mean pressure in the midfoot all increased while maximum force, peak pressure, contact area, mean pressure in the 1st metatarsal and 2-3th metatarsal all decreased when wearing functional shoes. Also, muscle activities in the four muscles were all decreased when wearing the functional shoes. This paper suggests that forfoot rocker shoes equipped with a metatarsal bar can help disperse the high pressure and absorb the shock to the foot as well as give positive influence on gait pattern and postural stability by reducing muscle fatigue during walking.
Keywords
Forefoot Rocker Shoes; Metatarsal Bar; Plantar Pressure; EMG Activity; Gait;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 7  (Citation Analysis)
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