• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.379-385
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare kinematics on lower limbs between stair walking with high heel and barefoot in healthy adult women. Methods: 18 healthy adult women were recruited in this study. The subjects performed stair ascent and descent with high heels and barefoot. The experiment was conducted in random order and repeated three times for each stair walking with high heels and barefoot. The movements of lower limb joints were measured and analyzed using a three-dimensional analysis system. Results: The ankle, knee, and hip flexion angles on the sagittal plane exhibited statistically significant differences between stair ascent and descent with high heels and barefoot. The pelvic forward tilt angles showed statistically significant differences only during stair ascent. The ankle inversion, hip abduction and pelvic lateral tilt angles on the frontal plane showed statistically significant differences between stair walking with high heels and barefoot. On the transverse plane, the hip rotation angles showed statistically significant differences between the high-heeled and barefoot gait during stair ascent and descent. However, the pelvic rotation angles showed no statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Therefore, wearing high-heeled shoes during stair walking in daily life is considered to influence lower limb kinematics due to the high heel, and thus poses the risks of pain, and low stability and joint damage caused by changes in the movement of lower limb joints.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2024

Walking can have a positive impact on cognitive function in adolescents. This study aimed to compare the effects of walking with sneakers and barefoot on cognitive ability in adolescents. Fifty-nine adolescent male students were included in the study and assigned to the control (n = 20), sneaker (n = 19), and barefoot (n = 20) groups. The barefoot and sneakers group performed a 40-min walking exercise four times a week for 12 weeks during the morning physical activity time, while the control group performed self-study. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and brain activity variables were measured before and after the exercise program. The results showed that after 12 weeks, the barefoot group had a significant decrease in Gamma and H-beta waves and a significant increase in sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) and Alpha waves. Conversely, the control group showed a significant decrease in SMR waves and increase in Theta waves. The sneaker group showed a significant decrease in SMR waves alone. In an eyes-open resting state, the barefoot group showed a significant increase in H-beta, M-beta, SMR, and Alpha waves. The barefoot group also had a significant increase in cognitive speed and concentration and a significant decrease in brain stress. Taken together, barefoot walking can effectively enhance cognitive ability in adolescents, as demonstrated by the significant variation in EEG activity. This research highlights the potential benefits of barefoot walking as a simple and effective form of exercise for enhancing cognitive function in adolescents.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.613-619
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• 2013

This study compares the gait characteristics of elderly women during barefoot walking and walking with sneakers. We measured foot angles, max foot pressure, peak plantar pressure of each plantar region, velocity of Center of Pressure(COP), and axis shifting of COP with an RS-scan system. Elderly women's foot angles were narrower when walking with sneakers than when barefoot walking. We found that the subtalar joint angle (representing ankle joint flexibility) affected walking stability. Regarding the peak plantar pressure of each foot region, pressures were high in the medial regions and the pressures greatly varied depending on the region measured during barefoot walking. The COP moved significantly faster when walking with sneakers than barefoot walking and suggests that elderly women walked faster in sneakers. Axis shifting of the COP decreased during walking with sneakers and indicated that gait balance improved when walking with sneakers. The findings of the present study can be utilized as foundational data for elderly women's gait characteristics as well as data for the production of functional footwear. Future research that focuses on various types of shoes, age groups, and gender are recommended for the development of more functional footwear for stable gaits.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.29-38
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of barefoot walking on the sandy beach on pain intensity, disability, motor function, sleep satisfaction, and quality of life in the elderly with low back pain (LBP). Methods : A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 32 elderly with LBP who underwent sand walking barefoot (intervention, n=16) or with sneakers (control, n = 16). Both walking methods were carried out for 30 minutes per day, three times a week for four weeks. Pain intensity and disability were assessed using the visual analog scale and Oswestry disability index, respectively. Balance and gait were evaluated using the Berg balance scale and timed up and go test, respectively. Sleep satisfaction was quantified with the Verran and Snyder-Halpern sleep scale. Finally, quality of life was assessed through the WHO quality of life scale's abbreviated Korean version. Results : Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant differences in pain intensity (p=.005), disability due to LBP (p=.002), static balance ability (p=.003), dynamic balance ability (p=.002), and sleep satisfaction (p=.017). There was no significant difference in the quality of life between the two groups. Conclusion : Barefoot walking on a sandy beach is significantly effective in improving pain, disability due to LBP, balance ability, and sleep satisfaction in the elderly with LBP. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer intervention periods must to be conducted to generalize using barefoot walking in LBP management.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to privide basic data for footwear development according to walking mechanics by comparing gait cycle difference between barefoot walking and walking shoes. The walking period was measured in 30 normal adult women with no foot deformity and abnormality. The first subject walked in sneakers and measured the cycle. And then, the subjects walked barefoot and the period was measured to obtain data. The data were taken form corresponding paired T-test. The results were as follows: In barefoot walking, the stance phase left side(p <.001), right side(p <.005), the loading response left side(p <.009), right side(p <.002) ), the pre-swing left side(p <.002), right side (p <.011), the double stance phase(p <.004) were increased and the mid-stance left side (p <.016), right side(p. 001), the swing phase left side(p<.001) was decreased. This suggests that barefoot walking increases the input of various senses of the foot, which makes stable walking possible. It is necessary to improve shoes based on the walking cycle in the future.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1992-1998
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• 2020

Background: The foot drop stimulator is designed to improve the walking ability of foot drop in patients after stroke, however, studies on clinical effects are still lacking. Objective: To investigate the effect of a foot drop stimulator on the walking and balancing abilities of foot drop patients after a stroke. Design: One-Group (Pretest-Posttest) Design. Methods: All subjects walked in all three conditions: foot drop stimulator (FDS) ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and barefoot. Primary outcome measures were assessed for walking and balance using a 10-m walking test (10MWT) and a timed up and go test (TUG). Secondary outcome measures consisted of a brief user interview, and the patients recorded the advantages and disadvantages of each condition. Results: FDS, AFO, and barefoot conditions showed a statistically significant difference in 10MWT and TUG (P<.001) as a result of comparing three conditions. FDS and AFO were significantly different from the barefoot condition as post-hoc results; however, there was no significant difference between the two conditions (P>.05). Conclusion: In this study, the foot drop stimulator contributed to improving the balance ability, and the walking ability was similar to the effect of the ankle-foot orthosis.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.69-81
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• 2005

In this study using two-dimensional system of the analysis of image, when normal males in their twenties who have normal foot and step with heel first are walking and running, they who are wearing running shoes or barefoot are testing and comparing the exchange factors of heel control. There are following results of this test by verifying them with T-Test. 1) When they are running, there are two big different gap which is $6.05^{\circ}$ between barefoot and wearing the running shoes. The former is $174.79^{\circ}{\pm}6.31$ and the latter is $180.84^{\circ}{\pm}4.69$. But it is not statistically significant. The angle of first step with heel is $100.42^{\circ}{\pm}3.95$ with barefoot and $93.97^{\circ}{\pm}094$ with wearing the running shoes. In this case, it is statistically significant(p<.01) 2) When they are running, the angle of the Achilles' tendon has different gap which is $5.24^{\circ}$ between barefoot and wearing the running shoes. The former is $179.70^{\circ}{\pm}4.23$ and the latter is $184.94^{\circ}{\pm}4.09$. It is not statistically significant. The angle of minimal step with heel is $96.30^{\circ}{\pm}3.07$ with barefoot and $90.84^{\circ}{\pm}0.44$ with wearing the running shoes. In this case, it is statistically significant(p<.01). 3) In the angle of the Achilles' tendon and the angle of first step with heel, when they are walking, the angle of the Achilles' tendon has different gap which is $1.81^{\circ}$ between barefoot and wearing the running shoes. The former is $6.39^{\circ}{\pm}0.83$ and the latter is $8.20^{\circ}{\pm}1.85$. It is not statistically significant. The angle of first step with heel is $2.32^{\circ}{\pm}0.51$ with barefoot and $3.22^{\circ}{\pm}1.44$ with wearing the running shoes. It is not statistically significant. 4) In the angle of the take-off of Achilles' tendon, when they are walking, the angle of the take-off of Achilles' tendon has different gap which is $3.88^{\circ}$ between barefoot and wearing the running shoes. The former is $177.62^{\circ}{\pm}8.78$ and the latter is $173.74^{\circ}{\pm}16.31$. It is statistically significant(p<.05). Therefore, they are running, the angle of the take-off of Achilles' tendon is $178.37^{\circ}{\pm}19.28$ with barefoot and $171.26^{\circ}{\pm}12.18$ with wearing the running shoes. It is statistically significant(p<.05).

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.78-86
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• 2020

Background: Flat-footed persons with collapsed medial longitudinal arch lose flexibility after skeletal maturity, resulting in several deformities and soft tissue injuries. Although arch support taping is usually applied in the clinic to support the collapsed arch, research on the use of different types of tape for more efficient arch support in flat-footed persons is lacking. Objects: The purpose of this study was to examine three conditions (barefoot, kinesio tape, and dynamic tape) and compare their effects on static and dynamic balance in persons with asymptomatic flexible flatfoot. Methods: Twenty-two subjects (9 females and 13 males) with asymptomatic flexible flatfoot participated in this study. The subjects performed the Y-balance test to measure the composite reach score. The subjects also performed a 30-second standing test to measure the center of pressure (COP) path length and a walking test to measure anteroposterior and lateral variability using the Zebris FDM system. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance compared the three conditions applied to the subjects' feet for each balance variable. Results: The composite reach score significantly increased following the application of dynamic tape compared with barefoot and that of kinesio tape compared with barefoot. There was no significant difference in the COP path length during standing among the three conditions. Anteroposterior and lateral variability during walking significantly with dynamic tape application compared with barefoot. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that, in persons with asymptomatic flexible flatfoot, application of kinesio tape and dynamic tape may be effective in increasing the composite reach score in Y-balance test, whereas application of dynamic tape may be effective in reducing anteroposterior and lateral variability during walking.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.135-142
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of walking on high heels on the behavior of fascicle length and activation of the lower limb muscles. Methods: Twelve healthy inexperienced high heel wearers (age: $23.1{\pm}2.0yr$, height: $162.4{\pm}4.9cm$, weight: $54.4{\pm}8.5kg$) participated in this study. They walked in high heels (7 cm) and barefoot on a treadmill at their preferred speed. During the gait analysis, the lower limb joint kinematics were obtained using a motion analysis system. In addition, the changes in fascicle length and the level of activation of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) were simultaneously monitored using a real-time ultrasound imaging technique and surface electromyography, respectively. Results: The results of this study show that the MG fascicle operates at a significantly shorter length in high heel walking ($37.64{\pm}8.59mm$ to $43.99{\pm}8.66mm$) in comparison with barefoot walking ($48.26{\pm}9.02mm$ to $53.99{\pm}8.54mm$) (p < .05). In addition, the MG fascicle underwent lengthening during high heel walking with relatively low muscle activation while it remained isometric during barefoot walking with relatively high muscle activation. Conclusion: Wearing high heels alters the operating range of the MG fascicle length and the pattern of muscle activation, suggesting that prolonged wearing of high heels might induce structural alterations of the MG that, in turn, hinder normal functioning of the MG muscle during walking.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1950-1953
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• 2020

Background: Ankle instability usually occurs after stroke, and contributes to unsafe walking and associated risk of falling in the affected patients. Objective: To investigate the effects of kinesiology taping (KT) on gait and balance ability (center of pressure, CoP) in patients with ankle instability after stroke. Design: One group, pre-post design. Methods: A total of 11 patients with ankle instability after stroke were enrolled. In all subjects, the gait and balance ability were assessed under 2 conditions: KT and barefoot. Gait and balance ability was assessed using GAITRite system and FDM-S platform. Results: Comparison between KT and barefoot condition, KT condition was significantly higher in velocity, cadence, step length, and stride length than barefoot condition (P<.05). KT condition was significantly lower in CoP path length and sway speed than barefoot condition (P<.05). Conclusion: KT indicated potential as a helpful method for walking and balancing ability in patients with ankle instability after stroke. Therefore, this study recommends KT as an option applicable to the stroke with ankle instability.