• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2009

Existing footwear biomechanics studies rely on simplified kinetics and kinematics, plantar pressure and muscle electromyography measurements. Because of the complexity of foot-shoe interface and individualized subject response with different footwear, consistent results regarding the biomechanical performance of footwear or footwear components can yet be achieved. The computational approach can be an efficient and economic alternative to study the biomechanical interactions of foot and footwear. Continuous advancement in numerical techniques as well as computer technology has made the finite element method a versatile and successful tool for biomechanics researchdue to its capability of modelling irregular geometrical structures, complex material properties, and complicated loading and boundary conditions. Finite element analysis offers asystematic and economic alternative in search of more in-depth biomechanical information such as the internal stress and strain distributions of foot and footwear structures. In this paper, the current establishments and applications of the computational approach for footwear design and evaluation are reviewed.