• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.2 s.161
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• pp.258-268
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• 2007

The purpose of this research is to develop functional midsole that can restrain the heightening of plantar pressure in forefoot pressure so as to develop high-heeled shoes that can lessen foot ailments among women. The pumps shoes used for the research were of the same pumps type last. The variant was heel height, 3cm, 6cm, and 9cm, and the shoes were made in both normal midsole and functional midsole. The variant was applied to investigate the changes of foot pressure on forefoot and hindfoot according to heel height.'Heel Cup' was chosen for modification of functional midsolepumps type. to enlarge contact area in hindfoot, and 'Heel Posting Pad' was attached under sustentaculum tali to suppress the weight moving to forefoot pressure. If such functional parts are developed and used, it is possible to lessen the amount of Pmax or Impulse imposed by high-heeled pumps type on forefoot pressure. This can greatly lessen foot ailments, largely caused by high-heeled shoes, among women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.783-792
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• 2005

The purpose of this research is to develop appropriate Insole according to foot characteristics of female adults. This research concentrates on proving the effectiveness of Insole on resolving foot discomforts by analyzing the differences between the fitting and foot pressure before and after wearing Insole. Among 216 female testers of previous research, six testers wear selected and placed into six different groups classified according to foot discomforts and foot characteristics. After wearing Insole, the results indicates that the entire groups represented the improvement of fitting and the mitigation of foot discomfort. The results of foot pressure experiment shows that the maximum pressure of foot spreads out evenly after wearing Insole, which indicates the effectiveness of Insole. This efficacy works particularly well for foot testers of second and sixth group. The results indicate that group 6, which consist of the flat-footed and the old, have more noticeable effects derived from Insole, whereas group 3 and 5 do not, due to its constitution of people with fairly normal feet. Furthermore, it was evident that maximum pressure played a major role in proving the beneficial effects of Insole, one of which is to scatter the maximum pressure of heel away and lessen the foot pressure of plantar.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.41-55
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• 2005

In this study, weight carrying pattern analysis and comparison method of four foot region were suggested. We used three types of club(driver, iron7, pitching wedge). This analysis method can compare between top class golfer and beginner. And the comparison data can be used to correct the swing pose of trainee. If motion analysis system, which can measure the swing speed and instantaneous acceleration at the point of hitting a ball, is combined with this plantar foot force analysis method, new design development of golf shoes to increase comfort and ball flight distance will be available. 1. Regional change of force acting, in address, is evenly distributed on both feet. In back swing top, 76% on right foot, 75% on left foot as impact, and 86% on left foot as finish. As regional force acting, in address, pros get high marks on rare and inside of right foot and rare and outside for amateurs. In back swing top, it is higher as fore and inside of left foot, pros as rare part of right foot and amateurs as forefoot. In impact, it is higher for pros and amateurs in outside and rare part of left foot and fore and inside of right foot. In finish, for both pros and amateurs, it is higher for outside and rare parts of left foot. 2. For each club, forces are evenly distributed on both feet in address. In back swing top, the shorter a club is, the higher impact on right foot and the higher finish distribution on left foot. For all the clubs used, in each region, pros get higher on rare and inside of right foot and as amateurs on rare and outside of left foot in address. In back swing top, for all clubs, pros get higher on rare and outside of right foot as fore and outside for amateurs. In impact acting, for all clubs, rare and outside of left foot get higher. In finish, force concentrates on rarefoot. 3. On both feet force, right foot forces of amateurs is higher than those of pros in back swing top. In impact and finish, pros get higher on left foot.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.335-345
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of foot type and ankle joint fatigue levels on the trajectories of center of pressure and center of mass during a single-leg stance. The study subjects included 24 healthy women (normal foot group, n=10; pronated foot group, n=14). Ankle joint muscle fatigue was induced by using an isokinetic dynamometer, where the fatigue levels were measured on plantar flexion and dorsiflexion at angular velocities of $30^{\circ}/s$ at 50% and 30% of the peak torque of ankle plantar flexion. Following assessments in the anteroposterior direction according to the level of fatigue, the pronated foot group showed decreased single-leg stance ability at 50% and 30% of the fatigue level. Moreover, the normal foot group showed better single-leg stance ability than the pronated foot group at 30% of the fatigue level. Following assessments in the mediolateral direction, we noted that the single-leg stance ability did not differ significantly according to the levels of fatigue or foot type. In conclusion, ankle plantar flexion at 50% and 30% of the peak torque reduced the ability of the pronated foot group to achieve a single leg stance in the anteroposterior direction. Moreover, the normal foot group showed better single-leg stance ability than the pronated foot group.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.81-94
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to critically review biomechanical studies on foot orthoses (FO) in normal and diseased foot and provide beneficial information obtained from researches until now and future researching focus. The search was performed by Medline and Embase database including studies published in English from January 1980 to April 2007. The searching terms were foot orthoses, foot orthotics, insoles and shoe insert. 57 studies including 54 journal articles and 3 abstracts were finally selected under the conditions of having clinical trials, FO, control condition, movement, scientific measuring system. The reviewed studies were divided into 10 categories according to subject characteristics; healthy normal, excessive pronation or flexible flat foot, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, medial knee osteoarthritis, forefoot varus, plantar fasciitis, patellofemoral syndrome, cavus foot and finite element model. In summary, first, soft and semirigid FOs with some degree of cushioning showed much higher comfort and efficacy than rigid FO. Second, no big differences between prefabricated and custom FO were shown. Third, the full length's FO was preferable to the half length's FO or simple arch supports. Fourth, the wearing of FO combining medial arch supports and metatarsal dome made positive roles to enhance comfort and functionality and redistribute plantar pressure under the foot. Fifth, for patients with knee-related diseases lateral wedges were preferable. Sixth, measuring systems were properly applied according to the types of foot diseases.

• 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.

• 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 Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.843-850
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• 2007

This paper proposes a somatosensory stimulation system for the improvement of postural stability using vibration as somatosensory stimulation. This system consists of vibratory stimulation and postural response measurement. To evaluate this system, the center of pressure(COP) was closely observed in turn with simultaneous or separate mechanical vibratory stimulations to flexor ankle muscles (tibialis anterior, triceps surae) and two plantar zones on both feet while standing on a stable and an unstable support. The simultaneous vibratory stimulations cleared influenced postural stability and the effects of vibrations were higher with the unstable support. In separate vibratory stimulations, the extent of the COP sway reduced when the direction of the vibratory stimulations and that of the inclination of body coincided for flexor ankle muscle stimulations. In the contrary, the extent of the COP sway increased when the direction of the stimulations and that of body inclination coincided for plantar zone stimulations. These results can be useful for the development of rehabilitation systems that utilizes somatosensory inputs for postural balance.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.92-98
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• 2019

Forefoot disorders are often seen in clinical practice. Forefoot deformity and pain can deteriorate gait function and decrease quality of life. This review presents common forefoot disorders and conservative treatment using an insole or orthosis. Metatarsalgia is a painful foot condition affecting the metatarsal (MT) region of the foot. A MT pad, MT bar, or forefoot cushion can be used to alleviate MT pain. Hallux valgus is a deformity characterized by medial deviation of the first MT and lateral deviation of the hallux. A toe spreader, valgus splint, and bunion shield are commonly applied to patients with hallux valgus. Hallux limitus and hallux rigidus refer to painful limitations of dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. A kinetic wedge foot orthosis or rocker sole can help relieve symptoms from hallux limitus or rigidus. Hammer, claw, and mallet toes are sagittal plane deformities of the lesser toes. Toe sleeve or padding can be applied over high-pressure areas in the proximal or distal interphalangeal joints or under the MT heads. An MT off-loading insole can also be used to alleviate symptoms following lesser toe deformities. Morton's neuroma is a benign neuroma of an intermetatarsal plantar nerve that leads to a painful condition affecting the MT area. The MT bar, the plantar pad, or a more cushioned insole would be useful. In addition, patients with any of the above various forefoot disorders should avoid tight-fitting or high-heeled shoes. Applying an insole or orthosis and wearing proper shoes can be beneficial for managing forefoot disorders.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.403-416
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• 1998

Socket pressure distributions with gait analysis of a trnsfemoral and a transtibial prostheses were measured in order to assess an optimal socket fitting and function. Ankle joint was aligned by the neutral and the dorsi/plantar flexed positions. Compared to dorsi and plantar flexed positions of ankle joint, cadence and walking speed increased with the neutral ankle joint alignment. Other gait parameters were close to the normative data with the neutral ankle joint alignment. For the transfemoral amputee, dorsiflexed alignment of the ankle joint created high pressure on the lateral aspect of the socket, on the other hand, plantarflexed alignment resulted in increased pressure on the medial aspect of the socket. For the transtibial amputee, dorsiflexed alignment of the ankle resulted in high pressure on the antero-lateral aspect of the socket during mid-stance, but apltarflexion of the ankle joint showed slight increases in pressure at the same location in the socket. The present study clearly demonstarted that malalignment of a prosthesis results in localized increasesing pressure within the socket. Proper slignment of the prosthesis is required in order to acquire an appropriate socket-limb interface as well as the proper gait.