• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.35-51
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• 2007

This research was administered in order to know the effects of heels on the foot by comparing the foot environmental characteristics when common shoes and elevated shoes are worn. First, 157 male adults in their 20s through 40s living in Busan were the inquiry subjects to reveal the shoes-wearing reality of adult males. Second, 7 male adults in their early 20s became the subjects for the experiments of wearing common shoes and elevated shoes. 1. Inquiry Results of Shoes-Wearing Reality Common-shoes wearers were in the order: 20s (43.9%) > 30s (24.8%) > 40s (8.3%). Elevated-shoes wearers were mostly 20s (12.1%), followed by 30s (8.3%) and 40s (2.5%). Among the wearing effects of elevated shoes were 'looking taller' (66.7%), 'no height complex & more confidence' (30.6%), and 'higher work efficiency' (2.8%). In sum, 97.3% of the male subjects believed in great positive effects by wearing elevated shoes. 2. Shoes-Wearing Experiment Results In foot skin temperature, significant differences between the two groups were admitted in outer foot a (p<0.05) and other areas (p<0.001), except in the instep. Elevated-shoes group had bigger skin temperature, while the order of temperature was the instep, the big toe, inner foot a/b/c and outer foot a/b/c. Significant difference was accepted in total sweat rate (p<0.05) and local sweat rate (p<0.01). Elevated-shoes group appeared higher in both rates. Significant difference (p<0.001) between the two groups was recognized in fatigue degrees after wearing, whereas significance (p<0.05) in elevated-shoes group was approved in fatigue before and after exercise. So elevated-shoes group experienced more fatigue, especially after exercise.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of both various shoe types and bare feet on ground reaction force while walking. Ten first-year female university students were selected. A force platform(Kistler, Germany) was used to measure ground reaction force. Six types of shoe were tested: flip flops, canvas shoes, running shoes, elevated forefoot walking shoes, elevated midfoot walking shoes, and five-toed shoes. The control group was barefooted. Only vertical passive/active ground reaction force variables were analyzed. The statistical analysis was carried out using the SAS 9.1.2 package, specifically ANOVA, and Tukey for the post hoc. The five-toed shoe had the highest maximum passive force value; while the running shoe had the lowest. The first active loading rate for running shoes was the highest; meanwhile, bare feet, the five-toed shoe, and the elevated fore foot walking shoe was the lowest. Although barefoot movement or movement in five toed shoes increases impact, it also allows for full movement of the foot. This in turn allows the foot arch to work properly, fully flexing along three arches(transverse, lateral, medial), facilitating braking force and initiating forward movement as the tendons, ligaments, and muscles of the arch flex back into shape. In contrast movement in padded shoes have a tendency to pound their feet into the ground. This pounding action can result in greater foot instability, which would account for the higher loading rates for the first active peak for padded shoes.