• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.489-498
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of the windlass mechanism in trail-walking shoe prototypes that can effectively support arches. A study of these effects should help with the development of a first-rate trail-walking shoe development guide for the distribution of quality information to consumers. Methods : The subjects were ten adult males who volunteered to participate in the study. Shoes from three companies, which will be referred to as Company S (Type A), Company M (Type B), and Company P (Type C), were selected for the experiment. The subjects wore these shoes and walked at a speed of 4.2 km/h, and as they tested each shoe, the contact area, maximum pressure average, and surface force were all measured. Results : Shoe Type A showed a contact area of $148.78{\pm}4.31cm^2$, Type B showed an area of $145.74{\pm}4.1cm^2$, and Type C showed an area of $143.37{\pm}4.57cm^2$ (p<.01). Shoe Type A demonstrated a maximum average pressure of $80.80{\pm}9.92kPa$, Type B an average of $85.72{\pm}11.01kPa$, and Type C an average of $89.12{\pm}10.88bkPa$ (p<.05). Shoe Type A showed a ground reaction force of $1.13{\pm}0.06%BW$, Type B a force of $1.16{\pm}0.04%BW$, and Type C a force of $1.16{\pm}0.03%BW$ (p<.05). Conclusion : The Type A trail-walking shoe, which was designed with a wide arch from the center of the forefoot to the front of the rearfoot showed excellent performance, however, more development and analysis of the windlass mechanism for a variety of arch structures is still necessary.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.155-176
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• 2005

There is some evidence that one of major factors to produce plantar fasciitis depends on the magnitude of the foot arch strain. The orthotics that can reduce the foot arch strain during locomotion may be effective to prevent or treat plantar fasciitis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of control condition and three types of foot orthotics on 3-dimensional foot arch strain that can produce plantar fasciitis during treadmill level and uphill walking and running. Sixteen male subjects are recruited and the arch length and height strain according to three types of foot orthotics with respect to control condition were measured by using two digital video cameras. The first hypothesis which the comfort of foot orthotics would be increased from arch pad, half length orthotics to full length orthotics was mostly accepted. It suggested that the types of the foot orthotics could be properly prescribed according foot regions that is pain or abnormal. The second hypothesis which the foot arch strain can be reduced by foot orthotics during level heel-toe walking and running and the third hypothesis which the foot arch strain can be reduced by foot orthotics during uphill heel-toe walking and running were rejected. The foot arch length and height strain during walking and running showed small and subject-specific characteristics and could not be optimal biomechanical variable to prove the overall comfort. The forth hypothesis which the foot arch strain cannot be reduced by foot orthotics during uphill toe walking and running was accepted. With the foot arch length and height strain during uphill toe walking and running the windlass mechanism suggested by Hicks can be explained successfully and excessive uphill toe walking and running can be one of cause of plantar fasciitis. The dynamic investigation on the foot arch such as walking and running should be carefully observed with integrated insights considering ligaments and foot bones as well as plantar fascia, extrinsic muscles and tendons, and intrinsic muscles and tendons.