• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.99-118
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• 2004

The aim of this study is to evaluate tennis shoes's plantar pressure distribution in tennis prayers and to determine the influence of the shoe on various tennis movements. When investigating the biomechanics of movement in tennis, one of the first things to do is to understand the movement patterns of the sport, specifically how these patterns relate to different tennis shoes. Once these patterns are understood, footwear company can design tennis shoes that match the individual needs of tennis players. Plantar pressure measurement is widely employed to study foot function, the mechanical pathogenesis for foot disease and as a diagnostic and outcome measurement tool for many performance. Measurements were taken of plantar pressure distribution across the foot and using F-Scan(Tekscan Inc.) systems respectively. The F-Scan system for dynamic in-shoe foot pressure measurements has enabled us to assess quantitatively the efficacy of different types of footwear in reducing foot pressures. The Tekscan F-Scan system consists of a flexible, 0.18mm thick sole-shape having 1260 pressure sensors, the sensor insole was trimmed to fit the subjects' right, left shoes. For this study 4 university male, high level tennis players were instructed to hit alternated forehand stroke, backhand stroke, forehand volley, backhand volley, smash, service movement in 4 different tennis shoes. 1. When impact in tennis movement, peak pressure distribution of landing foot displayed D>C>B>A, A displayed the best low pressure distribution. A style's tennis shoes will suggest prayer with high impact. If prayer with high impact feeling during pray in tennis wear A style, it will decrease injury, will have performance improvement. 2. When impact in tennis movement, plantar pattern of pressure distribution in landing foot displayed B>A>C>D in stability performance. During tennis, prayer want to stability movement suggest B style tennis shoes when tennis movement impact keep stability of human body. B style tennis shoes give performance improvement 3. When impact in tennis movement, plantar pattern of center of force(C.O.F.)trajectory in landing foot analyzed this : 1) When stroke movement and volley movement in tennis, prayer better to rearfoot movement. 2) when service movement, prayer midfoot strike movement. 3) when smash movement, prayer have forefoot strike movement.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2013

This study examined 24 right-handed amateur baseball players. Twelve who had played baseball for more than 6 years were grouped as skilled players, while 12 who had played for 1-3 years were the unskilled player group. The swing motion was divided into four event phases: stance, backswing, impact, and follow-through. The mean and maximum plantar pressure, center of pressure, and ground reaction force were measured during each event phase. The mean and standard deviations for each variables were calculated and differences were validated with the independent sample t-test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results were as follows. 1)The ideal stance is a stable, balanced position with more than 65% of weight on the right foot. There was significant difference in mean left plantar pressure, while the maximal plantar pressure and mean right plantar pressure did not differ significant. 2)The effective backswing of a skilled player is comprised a rightward shift in weight to build maximum energy. More than 90% of the weight was on the right foot. There was a significant difference in the mean left plantar pressure, while the maximal plantar pressure and mean right plantar pressure did not differ significantly. 3) For an effective impact, a rapid shift in weight to the left foot is essential, so that a power hit is obtained. Significant difference in the mean and maximum plantar pressures of both feet were observed. 4)Follow-through requires wight balance, more on the right than the left, without leaning leftward. There was no significant difference in the mean or maximum plantar pressure. 5)The center of plantar pressure should move from the center of the foot to the toe. 6)The analyses of the ground reaction force suggest that a good swing involves a gradual shift in weight to the right side and a rapid leftward shift at impact. Good balance, with the center of gravity on the right side at follow-through, is also required.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.257-265
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different ramp inclination on the maximum plantar foot pressure and pathway of the center of pressure. Fifteen healthy adults who had no musculoskeletal disorders were participated with this study and descended the ramp with different inclination(level, $-5^{\circ}$, $-10^{\circ}$, $-15^{\circ}$). Plantar foot pressures were recorded by the Matscan system(Tekscan, Boston, USA) during level and descending ramp with barefoot. Plantar foot surface was defined as seven regions for pressure measurement; two toe regions, three forefoot regions, one midfoot region, one heel region. Repeated ANOVA was used to compare each region data of foot according to different ramp inclination. As descending ramp inclination became increased, the pressure of hallux region was significantly increased at $-15^{\circ}$ inclination and the pressure of 2-3 metatasal head region were significantly decreased at $-5^{\circ}$, $-10^{\circ}$, $-15^{\circ}$ inclination. The pathway of COP had a tendency to be shifted inside in forefoot and prolonged to great toe as the descending ramp inclination increased. The results indicated that plantar foot pressure could be changed at hallux and forefoot regions with $-5^{\circ}$ ramp inclination and these findings demonstrated that ramp inclination could affect the structure and function of foot.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.59-65
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the shift of COP pathway and the plantar foot pressure among level walking and stairs and ramp climbing in young and elderly people. Plantar foot pressure was measured by MatScan system(Tekscan, USA). Statistical analysis was used One-way ANOVA to know the characteristics of peak plantar pressure during walking with different the facilities. In young adults, COP pathway during stairs climbing was slightly shorten and trended to abduct at forefoot. COP pathway during ramp climbing was also shorten but trend to adduct at forefoot. Peak plantar pressure of 2-3 metatarsal head and heel during ramp climbing was more decreased than level walking. In elderly people, COP pathway during stairs climbing was more shorten and abducted than leve walking and COP pathway during ramp climbing was more unstable than level walking. Peak plantar pressure of first metatarsal head increased at stair climbing and decreased at ramp climbing. That of second metatarsal head and heel was more decreased at ramp climbing. Conclusionally, Peak plantar pressures of each foot region generally increased and more changed during ramp climbing.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.115-125
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• 2007

Objectives : The limited number of studies to date have mainly focused on the effect of obesity on the characteristics of plantar foot pressures. This study is designed to find the correlation between plantar pressure and obese index. Methods : This study assessed the body composition of 30 obese women using bioelectrical impidence analysis and Gaitview AFA-50. The static and dynamic plantar pressure was determined from electronic footprints captured using a capacitive pressure distribution platform during standing and walking. The data were analysed by independent t-test and Pearson Correlation. Results : Positive correlations were noted between body weight, body mass index(BMI), waist circumference(WC), waist-hip ratio(WHR) and difference of fore and rear plantar pressure. And negative correlations were noted between body weight, BMI, WC, WHR and difference of left and right plantar pressure. Conclusions : The findings of this pilot study suggest that body composition influences the waight distribution in overweight and obese subjects.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different obstacle heights on the plantar foot pressure during obstacle crossing. Sixteen healthy adults who had no musculoskeletal disorders were instructed to perform unobstructed level walking and to step over obstacles corto 10cm, 20cm, 30cm. Plantar foot forces and pressures were recorded by the Footmat system(Tekscan, Boston, USA) during level and obstacle walking with barefoot. Plantar foot surface was defined as seven regions for pressure measurement; two toe regions, three forefoot regions, one midfoot region, one heel region. One-way ANOVA was used to compare each region data of foot according to various heights. The results indicated that there are significant differences on peak pressure and maximal forces regarding each region at stance phase. As height of obstacle became high, the pathway of COP had a tendency to be short and abducted. Plantar pressure of foot could be changed by obstacle height and these findings demonstrated that obstacle with different height have an effect on structure and function of the foot.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.131-143
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare the ground reaction forces and plantar pressure variables among three different safety shoes (Type 1: ergonomically designed and high quality shoes, 2: curved and cushioned safety hoes, and 3: regular safety shoes) and to find the effect of insole during walking. Ten healthy subjects were recruited for this study. The ground reaction force was measured using a 3 dimensional motion analysis system. Plantar pressures were measured Pedar Mobile foot pressure scan system. The ground reaction force variables were not significantly different among three different shoe types and insole conditions. After insertion insole, plantar pressure distributions were improved. These results suggest that the type 1 safety shoes was superior than other safety shoes in the statistics, and applying insole could be a possible method to prevent fatigue of lower extremity and musculoskeletal disorders. Further studies are needed to find the effect of ergonomically designed safety shoes design and insole on practical value prevention of musculoskeletal disorder, fatigue and satisfaction of workers.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2024

Purpose: Foot pressure measurement devices are used widely in clinical settings for plantar pressure assessments. Despite the availability of various devices, studies evaluating the inter-device reliability are limited. This study compared plantar pressure measurements obtained from HR Mat (Tekscan Inc.) and EMED-n50 (Novel GmbH). Materials and Methods: The study involved 38 healthy male volunteers. The participants were categorized into two groups based on the Meary's angle in standing foot lateral radiographs: those with normal feet (angles ranging from -4° to 4°) and those with mild flatfeet (angles from -8° to -15°). The static and dynamic plantar pressures of the participants were measured using HR Mat and EMED-n50. The reliability of the contact area and mean force was assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Furthermore, the differences in measurements between the two devices were examined, considering the presence of mild flatfoot. Results: The ICC values for the contact area and mean force ranged from 0.703 to 0.947, indicating good-to-excellent reliability across all areas. EMED-n50 tended to record higher contact areas than HR Mat. The mean force was significantly higher in the forefoot region when measured with EMED-n50, whereas, in the hindfoot region, this difference was observed only during static measurements with HR Mat. Participants with mild flatfeet exhibited significantly higher contact areas in the midfoot region for both devices, with no consistent differences in the other parameters. Conclusion: The contact area and mean force measurements of the HR Mat and EMED-n50 showed high reliability. On the other hand, EMED-n50 tended to record higher contact areas than HR Mat. In cases of mild flatfoot, an increase in contact area within the midfoot region was observed, but no consistent impact on the differences between the two devices was evident.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changing plantar foot pressure and muscle activation of neck, lumbar and low limb by different way of the using carrier during walking. Twenty healthy and young females who brought up infants and had no musculoskeletal disorders of neck, lumbar and low limb were instructed to perform plantar foot pressure and muscle activation of neck, lumbar and low limb during different ways of the using the carrier and walking. Plantar foot pressures were recorded by RS-scan system(RS scan Ltd, German), muscle activation were recorded by ProComp infinitiTM(Thought Technology Ltd, Canada). The data collected by each way of the using carrier and One-way ANOVA was used to analyze. The results indicated that there was a significant increase on erector spinae muscle activation and pressure of great toe zone by using anterior carrier and there was a increase on activation of paraspinal muscle and metatarsal zone by using posterior carrier. Therefore, the way of using carrier could be influenced upon structure and function of the foot and muscle activation.

• 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.