• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.48-55
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• 2019

Soldiers have been exposed to the risk of chilblains in cold winters. Recent studies have described sensors and IOT devices that use independent power sources based on piezoelectric energy harvesting. Therefore, the heated shoes with an independent power source have been developed. For the application of energy harvesting to shoes, it is necessary to develop a unique harvester by considering human gait characteristics. Energy harvesters and ceramics were designed and fabricated in this study. The performances of these harvesters and ceramics were evaluated experimentally. Then, the harvesters and ceramics with superior performance were selected and applied to the system. Thereafter, the heating and charging performance of the system was tested under real walking conditions. The results show that the developed system can generate adequate energy to charge the battery and heat the shoes.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.771-778
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• 2009

We aimed to determine the effect of heel height on foot pressure by comparing and analyzing data on foot pressure in shoes with different heel heights. Qn the basis of a previous study, we selected 3cm and 7cm as the shoe heel heights preferred by female college students. We divided 10 female students into forefoot and hindfoot to measure vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure. The average pressure on the forefoot was higher and that on the hindfoot was lower in the case of 7cm high-heeled shoes. The maximum pressure on the forefoot was significantly higher in the case of the 7cm heel height (p<.05). The vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure on the hindfoot were also significantly higher in the case of the 7cm heel height (p<.05). The results showed that wearing 7cm high-heeled shoes exerted greater maximum pressure on the forefoot and greater vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure on the Hndfoot. This leads to increase in confining pressure caused by high pressure distribution over the forefoot and increase in the pressure on the hindfoot, which may cause deformation of toes and heel pain over a long period. Therefore, female college students who wish to wear high heels are recommended to wear 3cm high-heeled shoes rather than 7cm high-heeled shoes.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2022

Background: It is essential to investigate the functionality of the newly developed knobble shoe. Purpose: The purpose was to explore how the body shape and balance change when wearing knobble shoes. Methods: Nine subjects wearing knobble shoes after walking for a month were analyzed. Results: For knobble shoes, we created various small air pockets in the insole to stimulate the soles of the feet to induce body changes. In particular, it was to promote the arch part of the foot by making a large lump inside and outside the center of the foot's arch. After wearing knobble shoes and using them for 30 days, the average blood sugar decreased by 31.1 mg. The lowering range was 5 to 120 mg. In one patient, the result of the hemoglobin test decreased by 7.5% to 6.5%. In the shoulder tapping test for a body balance test, seven subjects leaned to the right in a barefoot state, and two people to the left. However, after wearing shoes, all of them maintained equilibrium. knobble shoes fit, and balance was all stable. There were two subjects with a short left and four subjects with a short right. Conclusions: Blood sugar decreased after wearing the knobble shoes. The deformed shape of the body was restored to its original state by the knobble supporting the foot arch area. The balance of the sole directly affects the overall posture.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.113-122
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the foot-pressure distribution of 2D(2 dimensional form) & 3D(3 dimensional form; a customized arch-fit for posture correction) insoles for assessing their biomechanical functionality. Background : Recently there has been increased interest in both foot health and foot pain patients. Analysis of the plantar pressure was often used to solve the problems of the foot displayed by such people as rheumatoid arthritis patients. Method : Subjects who participated in this study were 17 female university students who had no previous injury experience in lower limbs and a normal gait pattern. The shoe size of all subjects was 240 mm. Two models of insoles of 2D(typical flat insole - 2 dimensional form) and 3D(special production - 3 dimensional form) were selected for the test. Using the Pedar-X system and Pedar-X insoles, 4.0 km/h of walking speed, and a compilation of 50 steps walking stages were used to analyze foot-pressure distribution. Results : Results of the foot-pressure distribution and biomechanical functionality on each insole were as follows; analyses of mean plantar pressure, maximum plantar pressure, maximum vertical GRF, and plantar pressure curve shape all showed overall low plantar pressure and GRF. Conclusion : This can be evaluated as an excellent insole for low levels on the plantar pressure and GRF. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that according to this analysis the 3D Customized Arch-fit Insole was better than 2D insole on the basis of these criteria.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of the peak plantar pressure distribution under the foot areas and the range of motion (ROM) of ankle joint according to gradients in treadmill gait. Method : Thirty normal subjects (15 male and 15 female) walked on treadmill at three gradient conditions ($0^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, and $15^{\circ}$) in normal speed. The ankle ROM was measured using the CMS70P that is three dimensional analyzer for excursion of ankle ROM, plantar flexion, and dorsi flexion. The peak plantar pressure distribution under the hallux, 1st metatarsal head (MTH) and heel was measured using the F -Scan system with an in-shoe sensor. Data was collected from 9 steps of left sife foot in at each gradient condition while all subjects walked. Result : As the treadmill gradient increased, the excursion of ankle joint was significantly increased (p<.05). Also, plantar flexion and dorsi flexion was significantly increased according to treadmill gradients (p<.05). The peak plantar pressure under the 1st MTH was significantly increased (p<.05) and the peak plantar pressure under the heel was significantly decreased (p<.05) as the treadmill gradient increased. No significant different in the peak plantar pressure under the hallux was observed. Conclusion : This study suggests that physical therapy for patients who have limited ankle ROM should be considered sufficient range of motion for functional ambulation. And individuals that have painful forefoot syndromes, including metatarsalgia, hallux valgus, and plantar ulceration should be careful in walking to uphill, as there is high plantar pressure under the forefoot.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.111-119
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activity and gait pattern in lower limb depending on the outsole of heel rockers. Fifteen healthy men volunteered for this experiment. Each subject performed totally three trails with two pairs of different heel rocker shoes and a pair of normal running shoes at speed of 1.33m/s for 1 minute during walking on a treadmill. Kinematic data gathered in 100Hz was recorded and analyzed by using the 3D motion capture system to measure the trunk tilt and joint angle of the right lower limb. And the lower extremity muscle activities were simultaneously recorded in 1000Hz and assessed by using EMG. The statistical analysis was the one-way ANOVA with the repeated measures to compare among the three kinds of shoes. The level of statistical significance for all tests was 0.05. Joint angle of lower limb was showed statistically significant different in MST(hip joint), LHS(ankle joint), and RTO(knee and ankle joint). Muscle activity of rectus femoris and biceps femoris was statistically increased in both heel rocker shoes during gait cycle on treadmill. The maximum peak time of tibialis anterior in the negative heel rocker showed the delay of approximately 23.8%time than normal shoes. Gait pattern variability of the negative heel rocker was increased in the first half of the stance phase and the variability of the positive heel rocker was increased in the terminal stance phase. In Conclusion, stability was decreased in between joints of lower limb on positive heel rocker than negative heel rocker. This study found that there were different joint angle, muscle activity, gait pattern and coordinate system of the lower limb in each kind of shoes. These unstability affected the lower extremity and the whole body. A further study has to be continued with study of rehabilitation and exercise for a long-term.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of wearing various types of shoes on gait ability in stroke survivors and in order to gain information in regards to shoes that could possibly replace ankle orthosis. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Eight hemiplegic survivors diagnosed with stroke participated in the study. Gait was analyzed using the GAITRite Electronic Walkway (CIR System Inc., USA) when subjects walked with no showed, walked with non-ankle-covered shoes, and walked with ankle-covered shoes. This study collected gait variables, including velocity, cadence, step length, stride length, single support time, and double support time, respectively. Results: In the comparison of walking with no shoes, non-ankle-covered shoes, and ankle-covered shoes, there were significant differences in gait velocity, step length, stride length, and the less affected side single support time (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in cadence, affected side single support time, and double support time. Conclusions: Ankle-covered shoes had a positive impact on the gait of stroke survivors. However, it is necessary to conduct more studies comparing various types of shoes with ankle orthoses.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.199-205
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes in gait according to four style of bag's carryied method and three different bag's weights. Twenty healthy adults participated in four conditions. The first condition, they wearing a bag on one side shoulder and walked. The second condition, they carried a bag sling across on shoulder and walked. The third condition, they carried a bag on a back using both shoulders and walked. The fourth condition, they hold a bag in their right hand and walked. During all four conditions participants wore a SmartStep insole in their right shoe and had a pressure control device strapped to their right ankle. Each participant walked 10 meters carrying a 2.5 kg, 5 kg and 7.5 kg bag under all four conditions. There were significantly differents in stance phase rate; swing phase rate and walking speed according to bag weight of 2.5 kg, 5 kg, 7.5 kg.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.184-192
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• 2015

Korea has already entered into an aging society. In recent decades, the health problems for seniors has received considerable interest. We often see the elderly who have been struggled from discomfort or illness of the foot. Those foot related problems mainly cause from the use of improper shoes. Recently, shoe makers sell the shoes for seniors, so called comfort shoes, but the shoes are too expensive for seniors to buy easily. In this paper, we develop cheap insoles for seniors as an alternative of the comfort shoes and suggest the systematic process for the insoles development. This systematic process is as follows: 1) Survey the literature about the market of insole, 2) Investigate the standard size of body and foot for the seniors in Korea, 3) Analyze the customer needs by survey, 4) Study the walking pattern by experiments, and 5) Develop the novel insole for the seniors to relieve the inconveniences related with foot. From the newly developed insoles, the company B gains the sales increasing effect approximately 30% over through the increase in consumer satisfaction and company reputation and secures for intellectual property rights. Using the database from Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, the reliability of developing technology of the functional insole has been obtained. The seniors are also enable to choose an alternative of comfort shoes for foot health. In the future, the insoles developed from this study have wide applications in the medical, cosmetic fields, and leisure sports fields. Accordingly, it seems to require more systematic studies utilizing Walk Analyzer and Foot Pressure Meter.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.431-441
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in the contact area, maximum pressure, maximum mean pressure, and maximum force of functional insoles and general insoles when walking. Methods: Foot pressure was measured by the ignition of functional insoles and general insoles on Company N shoes. The foot pressure was measured using a precision pressure distribution meter (Pedar - X mobile system, Novel, Germany). Each insole sensor contained 99 independent cells and was inserted between the foot and the shoe. A wireless Bluetooth-type program was used to measure the pressure detected by the measuring insoles. In order to eliminate adaptation and fatigue caused by wearing the guide during the experiment, sufficient rest was taken between each experiment, and the wearing order was randomly selected. Results: Functional insole significantly increased the forefoot and midfoot (medial, lateral) (p<0.05), while total foot, forefoot, and rearfoot peak pressure significantly decreased (p < 0.05) compared to the general insole. Conclusion: In the functional insole, a high contact area was measured inside, even in the middle of the foot, leading to a proper change in foot pressure. It was confirmed that the contact area was reduced and dispersion occurred well. In addition, it was found that the maximum pressure in the front and back of the entire foot was reduced, so the weight pressure dispersion in the functional insole was evenly distributed, and the maximum average pressure change was similar.