• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.93-101
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• 2008

Wedged soles and rocker soles are widespread shoe designs used to prevent the disorders and reduce the pain of the lower extremity caused by arthritis or diabetic feet. In this study, the effect of a shoe with a laterally wedged sole and a rocker sole simultaneously was analyzed on the kinematics and kinetics of the ankle joint during normal walking. Eight male participants without a history of lower extremity disorders were recruited. Each participant performed twenty walking cycles for each of three walking conditions: bare foot, wearing normal shoes and wearing shoes with laterally wedged rocker soles. The differences between the three walking conditions were statistically investigated including spatio-temporal variables, angular displacements, joint moments and ground reaction forces. The results showed that the laterally wedged rocker sole decreased the sagittal variation of angular displacements as well as the frontal/sagittal average moment on the ankle joints compared to the flat sole. In addition, the rate of angular displacements and loading decreased during the heel contact phase.