• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.926-934
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• 2006

This paper proposes intelligent control of a virtual walking machine that can generate infinite floor for various surfaces and can provide proprioceptive feedback of walking to a user. This machine allows users to participate in a life-like walking experience in virtual environments with various terrains. The controller of the machine is implemented hierarchically, at low-level for robust actuator control, at mid-level fur platform control to compensate the external forces by foot contact, and at high-level control for generating walking trajectory. The high level controller is suggested to generate continuous walking on an infinite floor for various terrains. For the high level control, each independent platform follows a man foot during the swing phase, while the other platform moves back during single stance phase. During double limb support, two platforms manipulate neutral positions to compensate the offset errors generated by velocity changes. This control can, therefore, satisfy natural walking conditions in any direction. Transition phase between the swing and the stance phases is detected by using simple switch sensor system, while human foot motions are sensed by careful calibration with a magnetic motion tracker attached to the shoe. Experimental results of walking simulations at level ground, slope, and stairs, show that with the proposed machine, a general person can walk naturally on various terrains with safety and without any considerable disturbances. This interface can be applied to various areas such as VR navigations, rehabilitation, and gait analysis.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.913-920
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• 2012

An efficient 3D finite element walking model that considers the detailed shapes of muscles, ligaments, bones, skin, and soles was developed based on a real computed tomography (CT) scan image of a foot, and nonlinear contact analyses were performed to investigate pressure changes. The highest pressure occurs at the rear bottom of the foot when standing and walking. The pressure on the outsole with a curved foot bottom surface is lessened and distributed over a wider area than in the case of a flat outsole. The result shows that a shoe sole shape optimized for diabetes patients can relieve the foot pressure concentration and prevent further worsening of symptoms.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.3833-3838
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• 2009

This paper introduces a measurement system for mechanical properties of sport shoes using an industrial robot. The robot system used in this paper is a commercial Puma type robot system(FARA AT2 made by SAMSUNG Electronics) with 6 joints and the end-effector is modified to produce a human walking motion. After analyzing human walking with a high speed video camera, each joint angle of the robot system is extracted to be used in the robot system. By using this system, ground impact forces were measured during stepping motion with 3 different shoe specimens made of 3 different hardness outsoles, respectively. As other mechanical properties, both bending moments to bend the toe part of the same specimen shoes and pronation quantities during walking motion were measured as well. In the impact test with the same depth of deformation under the ground level, the effect of the outsole hardness was clearly appeared such that the harder outsole produces the higher ground reaction force. The bending test and the pronation test also show proportional increments in the bending stiffness and the moment Mx according to the outsole hardness. Throughout such experiments, the robot system has produced consistent results so that the system could be used in obtaining valuable informations for a shoe designing process.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.2899-2905
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• 2015

This paper presents is a study on the pressure distribution families low in response to ground conditions. Indoor shoes, outdoor shoes, working shoes, are four categories of shoes sports shoes, has been used in the present study, Concrete to target men in their 20s of 45people wearing the 260mm(Euro Code EU40), the experiments were carried out in the sand ground. Measurement of stress and pressure at the time of walking, Techstorm company Insole System the measured toe of the foot using, foot binding, was the metatarsal, the low pressure come from Fujoku four areas measured. Depending on the shoes and ground conditions findings, the results of this study represents the distribution of other stress and pressure, is expected to be useful in the development of a wearable shoe sand soil.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.1019-1025
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• 2022

In recent years, the number of foot disease patients due to bad walking habits and living environment is increasing. We examine how patients with mild foot disease according to shoe design characteristics affect satisfaction and purchase intention when purchasing orthopedic shoes. The design characteristics of shoes consisted of functionality, convenience, and aesthetics. It was found that aesthetics had an effect on purchasing orthopedic shoes. Even if the factors of functionality and convenience have little effect, if the aesthetic is high, purchase intention and satisfaction are affected. Various elements are required for design according to the frequency of participation in social activities for each mild foot disease and the purpose of wearing it. It is expected that the development of useful orthopedic shoe designs that patients with mild foot disease can wear in their daily life will lead to practical application and satisfaction by further supplementing the characteristic factors of orthopedic shoe design identified through the research results.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.71-79
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• 2008

Walking shoes for walking and jogging have been used to enjoy lots of leisure time. Functional shoes such as walking shoes have special functions to improve body motility by changing of shoe shapes. The walking shoes could improve the motility by structural transformation of outsole as increase degrees of heel and toe. The study on insoles has not been conducted enough on the contrary of the study of outsole. The purpose of this study is to perform ergonomics analysis whether the Arch Supported insoles have an improving effect of muscle activities or not. Experiments were performed with 6 subjects who are health and haven't experienced any diseases past. EMG(Electromyography) and Foot Pressures were measured repeatedly for 5 seconds at 0 hour, after 1 hour and after 2 hours of walking. Insoles used for experiment are normal insole, insole inserted Arch Support and pad. The electrodes for EMG measurement were set on waist (erector spinae), and thigh (vastus lateralis), calf (gastrocnemius). Evaluations of EMG were analyzed by shift of MF (Median Frequency) and MPF (Mean Power Frequency). Foot Pressure was analyzed by mean pressure of feet and change of walking time. As results, Arch Support insole had larger frequency shift value than that of normal insole. Frequency shift between Arch Support insoles and normal insole showed significant difference on 95% confidence interval. And insole 1 has the highest value of frequency shift. For results of foot pressure, Arch Support insoles show continuous decreasing tendency when comparing with normal insoles by changing of times. Also, insole 1 has the highest decreasing value of foot pressure. Therefore, this study presented that the Arch Support insole can promote muscle activities and improves comfort for a prolonged walking.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.51-63
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• 2007

Diabetic foot ulcers result from abnormal mechanical loading of the foot, such as repetitive pressure applied to the plantar aspect of the foot while walking. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy causes changes in foot structure, affecting foot function and subsequently leading to increased plantar foot pressure, which is a predictive risk factor for the development of diabetic foot ulceration. To early identify the insensitive foot makes it possible to prevent diabetic foot ulceration and to protect the foot at risk from abnormal biomechanical loading. Abnormal foot pressures can be reduced using several different approaches, including callus debridement, prescription of special footwear, foot orthosis. injection of liquid silicone, Achilles tendon lengthening, and so forth. Off-loading of the diabetic wound is a key factor to successful wound healing as it is associated with reduced inflammatory and accelerated repair processes. Pressure relief can be achieved using various off-loading modalities including accommodative dressing, walking splints, ankle-foot orthosis, total contact cast, and removable and irremovable cast walkers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.260-263
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• 2005

In this study, we analyzed the plantar shear stress and pressure of diabetic foot patients during walking by using in-shoe local shear force and plantar pressure measurement system. Twelve normal subjects and three diabetic foot patients with diabetic neuropathy in lateral heel were participated in this study. The center of pressure in diabetic foot patients moved more medially and directed toward 1st, 2nd metatarsal heads and hallux during late stance period, making pressure at the medial heel and 2nd metatarsal head significantly higher than in the normal. Shear stress at the heel were changed significantly in early stance and the magnitude of shear stresses in each metatarsal head were also changed. Further studies would be very helpful to design foot orthoses in patients with diabetic neuropathy or other diseases.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.224-228
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• 2018

Purpose: The most common cause of plantar ulceration is an excessive plantar pressure in patients with peripheral neuropathy. Foot orthosis and therapeutic footwear have been used to decrease the plantar pressure and prevent the plantar ulceration in in diabetes patients. We investigated whether protective sock with functional insoles reduce plantar pressure while walking in 17 diabetes patients. Methods: An in-shoe measurement device was used to measure the peak plantar pressure while walking. Peak plantar pressure data were collected while walking under two conditions: 1) wearing diabetic sock and 2) wearing the protective sock with functional insoles. Each subject walked 3 times in 10-m corridor under three conditions, and data were collected in 3 steps in the middle of corridor with in right and left feet, respectively. Pared t-test was used to compare the peak plantar pressures in three plantar areas under these two conditions. Results: The protective sock with functional insoles significantly reduced the peak plantar pressure on the lateral rearfoot, but significantly increased the peak plantar pressure on the middle forefoot, and medial midfoot (p<0.05). However, there were not significant in medial and lateral forefoot, lateral midfoot, and medial rearfoot between diabetic sock and the protective sock conditions (p>0.05). Conclusion: The protective sock with functional insoles reduced plantar pressures in the rearfoot and supported the medial longitudinal arch. However, it is necessary to change the position of metatarsal pad in the insole design of forefoot area to prevent diabetic foot ulceration.