• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.469-477
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of insole-equipped ankle-foot-orthoses (AFO) on gait. 10 healthy males who had no history of injury in the lower extremity participated in this study as the subjects. The foot of each subject was first scanned, and the insole fit to the plantar was made using BDI-PCO(Pedcad Gmbh, Germany). The subject then was made to walk on a treadmill under four experimental conditions: 1) normal walking, 2) walking wearing AFO, 3) walking wearing AFO equipped with the insole, 4) walking wearing pneumatic-ankle-foot-orthosis (pAFO) equipped with the insole. During walking, foot pressure data such as maximum force, contacting area, peak pressure, and mean pressure was collected using Pedar-X system (Novel Gmbh, Germany) and EMG activity of lower limb muscles such as gastrocnemius medial head, gastrocnemius lateral head, and soleus was recorded using MP150 EMG module (BIOPAC System Inc., USA). Collected data was then analyzed using paired t-test in order to investigate the effects of the insole. As a result of the analysis, when insole was equipped, overall contacting area was increased while both the highest peak pressure and the mean pressure were significantly decreased, and EMG activity of the lower limb muscles was decreased. On the contrary, the cases of wearing AFO showed the decreased contacting area and the increased pressures. Therefore, the AFO equipped with a proper insole fit well to the foot can help comfortable walking by spreading the pressure over the entire plantar.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.29 no.5 s.142
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• pp.595-606
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to identify foot shapes of elderly women by classifying their foot types according to the shapes of sole (plantar view) of foot and analyzing the characteristics of each type. The subjects were 321 elderly women over 60 years of age. Their right feet were measured indirectly by using .scanner. The anthropometric measurements consist of 32 items. They were measured during the months of July and August in 2001. The results and discussions of this study are as follows. First, in analyzing sole of the foot of elderly women, the shapes of sole were classified as W-type (wider width for its length and severe alteration), A-type (similar to W-type but with narrower width), D-type (protruded outside) and H-type (even foot width). Second, the most characteristic sole type in elderly women was W-type. In this type, the width was wider for its length, the first metatarsophalangeal protrusion was severe and the toes were gathered at the center. Hopefully, understanding the shapes of sole and characteristics of each sole type will help to develop suitable shoes for elderly women.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.24 no.1 s.190
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• pp.85-92
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• 2007

In the present study, three-dimensional motion analyses were performed to determine biomechanics of the lower extremity in unexpected missing foot steps for ten healthy young volunteers. In unexpected missing foot steps, the whole plantar surface of the foot or the heel contacted to the ground. A rapid ankle dorsiflexion was found right after missing foot steps and an increased plantarflexion moment was noted during loading response. After the unexpected situation, the breaking force increased rapidly. At this time, both tibialis anterior and soleus were simultaneously activated. Moreover, the range of motion at ankle, knee and hip significantly decreased during stance. In pre-swing, rectus femoris and biceps femoris prevented the collapse of the lower limbs. During late stance, propulsive forces decreased and thus, both plantarflexion moment and power generation were significantly reduced. On the opposite side, hip extension and pelvic upward motion during terminal swing were significant. Due to the shortened pre-swing, the energy generation at the ankle to push sufficiently off the ground was greatly reduced. This preliminary study would be helpful to understand the biomechanics of unexpected dynamic perturbations and valuable to prevent frequent falling of the elderly and patients with gait disorders.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.11-19
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine effect of trunk control using pelvic movements upon the foot pressure in patients with hemiplegia. Methods: Twelve males with hemiplegia were the procedure executed turnk control using pelvic movements. The foot pressure were measured using Parotec-system. Results: The data were analysed with paired t-test. First, there was a significant increase in external and internal sensors of dynamic foot pressure change of the hindfoot before and after therapy. Also there was significant increase in hallux (p<0.05). Second, there was a significant increase of affected side in support phase(p<0.05) and decreased of affected side in overlapping phase(p<0.05). Third, there was a significant increase in foot floor contact time and impulse pressure rate between affected and non affected side(p<0.05). Conclusion: The trunk control with pelvic movement had an significant effect on the legs by increase activities of hip flexors and abductors. Also had an effect on ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexor by biomechanical movement.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 1999

Polydactyly is the most common congenital deformity of the foot. The authors present an unusal case of polydactyly of the foot in an otherwise healthy adult male. The patient has an mixed type of polydactyly composed of polysyndactyly of the first toe, Y shaped second metatarsal and polysyndactyly with the fusion to the forth toe of the fifth toe. Meticulous. preoperative plan was prepared and performed at the operation. Main procedures were as follows : 1) Excision of extradigit of first toe and first metatarsocuneiform joint fusion. 2) Excision of lateral bud of second metatarsal and plantar-medial osteotomy of the medial bud. 3) Metatarsal head resection arthroplasty of third & forth metatarsophalangeal joint and 4) Excision of medial polydactyly of the fifth toe and syndactyly release and split thickness skin graft. Postoperatively, The forefoot width was reduced from 11.5 to 9.5cm and the pain was relieved.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.238-243
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• 2007

Purpose: Study was to evaluate the operative results for tarsal coalition with tarsal tunnel syndrome. Materials and Methods: From Jan. 2005 to Mar. 2006, among a number of patients who were diagnosed with tarsal tunnel syndrome caused by tarsal coalition and treated surgically, 5 patients were closely observed for more than 12 months. All cases were talocalcaneal coalition and there were two male and three female patients with a mean age of 36 years (22-50 years). We used the Takakura rating scale as clinical evaluation. Results: All five patients had a burning pain in the sole or extended to toes and showed positive Tinel's sign. Sensory disturbances were observed in the distribution of the medial plantar nerves in four patients and in the area of the medial and lateral plantar nerves in one. Atrophy and weakness of the plantar muscles were seen in two patients. The mean Takakura scale in preoperative and postoperative was 3.4 points (1 to 5 points), 8.6 point (6 to 10 points). The mean follow up was 14.4 months (12 to 16 months). The postoperative results were excellent in two patients, good in two and fair in one. As postoperative complications, there were persistent swelling in one patient and a flexion disturbance of Hallux in one. Conclusion: The coalition resection performed on tarsal tunnel syndrome caused by tarsal coalition could improve a level of pains and neurological symptoms significantly. However, since there were some undesirable complications, a detailed explanation to patients is required prior to surgical treatment and study of such complications may be required.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2006

Background: Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is an entrapment neuropathy of the tibial nerve within fibrous tunnel on the medial side of the ankle. The most common cause of TTS is idiopathic. This is a retrospective study to define the electrophysiological characteristics of idiopathic TTS. Methods: We reviewed the medical and electrophysiological records of consecutive patients with foot sensory symptoms referred to electromyography laboratory. Inclusion of patients was based on clinical findings suggestive of TTS. Among them, patients with any other possible causes of sensory symptoms on the foot were excluded. Control data were obtained from 19 age-matched people with no sensory symptoms or signs. Routine motor and sensory nerve conduction study (NCS) including medial plantar nerve (MPN) using surface electrodes were performed. Result: Twenty one patients (13 women, 8 men, 9 unilateral, 12 bilateral) were enrolled to have idiopathic TTS (total 31 feet). Tinel's sign was positive in 16 feet (51.6%) of TTS and four feet (10.5%) in control group. The statistically significant electrophysiological parameter was difference of sensory conduction velocity (SCV) between sural nerve and MPN. Amplitude of sensory nerve action potential and SCV of MPN were not different significantly between idiopathic TTS feet and controls. Conclusion: Bilateral development in idiopathic TTS was more common. Tinel's sign and difference of SCV between sural nerve and MPN may be helpful for the diagnosis of idiopathic TTS.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.6 s.171
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• pp.213-221
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• 2005

An insole type local shear force measurement system was developed and local shear stresses in the foot were measured during level walking. The shear force transducer based on the magneto-resistive principle, was a rigid 3-layer circular disc. Sensor calibrations with a specially designed calibration device showed that it provided relatively linear sensor outputs. Shear transducers were mounted on the locations of four metatarsal heads and heel in the insole. Sensor outputs were amplified, decorded in the bluetooth transmission part and then transferred to PC. In order to evaluate the developed system, both shear and plantar pressure measurements, synchronized with the three-dimensional motion analysis system, were performed on twelve young healthy male subjects, walking at their comfortable speeds. The maximum peak pressure during gait was 5.00kPa/B.W at the heel. The time when large local shear stresses were acted correlated well with the time of fast COP movements. The anteroposterior shear was dominant near the COP trajectory, but the mediolateral shear was noted away from the COP trajectory. The vector sum of shear stresses revealed a strong correlation with COP movement velocity. The present study will be helpful to select the material and to design of foot orthoses and orthopedic shoes for diabetic neuropathy or Hansen disease.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.58-61
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• 1999

Isolated fracture dislocation of the tarsal navicular bone is extremely rare. The mechanism of injury of this fracture dislocation is known as a horizontal or axial load on plantar flexed foot. Closed or open reduction is recommended for displaced navicular fracture. We report one case of isolated fracture dislocation of the tarsal navicular which was treated with closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire fixation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.29-35
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• 2008

Purpose : To describes the important aspects of the foot and ankle movement and function used when git and balance strategy. Method : The foot and ankle was a very important roles in the lower limb movement and gait. This study summarizes the physiologic movement of knee to the PNF lower extremity patterns. Result : The ankle joint composed of the talocural joint, the subtalarl joint, transverse tarsal joint, talocalcaneonavicular joint. The onset of dorsiflexion muscle activity starts in pre swing gait patterns. First contract muscle is the extensor hallucis. Activity of tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus quickly follows in mid swing gait phase. During stance phase, the soleus and gastrocnemius muscle provided plantar flexor torque, which muscle reacts quickly to restrain ankle dorsiflexion, and contributes modulated control of the ankle motion in gait patterns. Conclusions : The understanding of ankle kinematics, could provide a good therapeutic approach for improving gait patterns in patients with various pathological condition.