• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2009

We studied the postural response induced by plantar sole vibration with various frequencies(20, 60, 100Hz) and vibration zone(the anterior and posterior foot zone) of both soles during standing. Eight healthy young adults were exposed to 15s periods of plantar sole vibration while blindfolded. Body sway(COM, center of mass), the angle of neck, trunk, hip, knee, ankle and EMG of four lower limb muscles(tibialis anterior, lateral and medial gastrocnemial, soleus muscle) were recorded during 15s plantar sole vibration using 3D motion analysis system. Simulating each zone separately resulted in spatially oriented body tilts; oppositely directed backward and forward, respectively, the amplitude of which was proportional to the vibration frequency. EMG activity of lower limb muscles also varied according to the direction of the vibration zone and linearly according to the frequency. These findings led us to consider the plantar sole vibration as useful method of postural balance control and adjustment.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.110-113
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• 2000

The reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the sole requires to stand the force of weight bearing, provide sensation and adequacy for normal foot-wear. Although certain local flaps have been described and used for resurfacing the foot, extensive injury requires distant or free flaps for coverage. There is no doubt that the ideal tissue for resurfacing the sole is the plantar tissue itself. The specialized dermal-epidermal histology and fibrous septa of the subcutaneous layer gives its unique property to stand the pressure and to absorb the shock upon gait. This paper presents a case of reconstructing the sole that involves about 70% of the weight bearing portion. The combined medial plantar and dorsalis pedis chimeric free flap based on the medial plantar artery and medial plantar nerve adds another dimension in resurfacing the weight bearing sole of moderate to large sized defects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2010

Purpose: Tumor ablation and traumatic intractable ulceration of the plantar surface of the foot results in skin and soft tissue defects of the weight-bearing sole. Simple skin grafting is not sufficient for reconstruction of the weight-bearing areas. Instead, the island medial plantar flap (instep flap) and distally-based island medial plantar flap was used for proper reconstruction of the weight bearing area. However, there are some disadvantages. In particular, an island medial plantar flap has a short pedicle limiting the mobility of the flap and the distally-based island medial plantar flap is based on a very small vessel. We investigated whether good results could be obtained using a reverse island medial plantar flap based on the lateral plantar vessel as a solution to the above limitations. Methods: Three patients with malignant melanoma were cared for in our tertiary hospital. The tumors involved the lateral forefoot, the postero-lateral heel, and the medial forefoot area. We designed and harvested the flap from the medial plantar area, dissected the lateral and medial plantar artery and vena comitans, and clamped and cut the vessel 1 cm proximal to the branch from the posterior tibial artery and vena comitans. The medial plantar nerve fascicles of these flaps anastomosed to the sural nerve, the 5th interdigital nerve, and the 1st interdigital nerve of each lesion. The donor sites were covered with skin grafting. Results: The mean age of the 3 subjects was 64.7 years (range, 57 - 70 years). Histologically, all cases were lentiginous malignant melanomas. The average size of the lesion was $5.3\;cm^2$. The average size of the flap was $33.1\;cm^2$. The flap color and circulation were intact during the early postoperative period. There was no evidence of flap necrosis, hematomas or infection. All patients had a normal gait after the surgery. Sensory return progressively improved. Conclusion: Use of an island medial plantar flap based on the lateral plantar vessel to the variable weight-bearing sole is a simple but useful procedure for the reconstruction of any difficult lesion of the weight-bearing sole.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.83-97
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• 2024

A plantar pressure mat with visual notifications was developed to confirm whether individuals can effectively balance themselves and correct imbalances. The sensor-embedded mat was made with a commercial yoga mat, and was tested on seven working women in their 30s to determine plantar pressure distribution when standing and squatting, and if they could recognize and correct imbalances with visual feedback. The study found that visual notifications significantly changed the plantar pressure ratio of the forefoot and hindfoot, as well as the left and right foot plantar pressure ratio. Without notifications, the center of gravity was more concentrated in the rear foot than the forefoot in both standing and squatting positions. Visual notifications showed that the center of gravity, which was largely focused on the rear foot, was distributed to the forefoot, resulting in a more evenly distributed center of gravity throughout the sole. For the change in left and right plantar pressure, the weight that was largely loaded on the left side was distributed to the right foot through the visual notification mat, confirming a more balanced plantar pressure.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.205-219
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• 2002

This research seeks to identify the plantar pressure distribution graph and change in force in connection with effective golf drive strokes and thus to help ordinary golfers have appropriate understanding on the moving of the center of weight and learn desirable drive swing movements. To this end, we conducted surveys on five excellent golfers to analyze the plantar pressure applied when performing golf drive strokes, and suggested dynamic variables quantitatively. 1) Our research presents the desire movements as follows. For the time change in connection with the whole movement, as a golfer raises the club head horizontally low above ground from the address to the top swing, he makes a semicircle using the left elbow joint and shaft and slowly turns his body, thus lengthening the time. And, as the golfer twists the right waist from the middle swing to the impact with the head taking address movement, and does a quick movement, thus shortening the time. 2) For the change in pressure distribution by phase, to strike a strong shot with his weight imposed from the middle swing to the impact, a golfer uses centrifugal force, fixes his left foot, and makes impact. This showed greater pressure distribution on the left sole than on the right sole. 3) For the force distribution graph by phase, the force in the sole from the address to halfway swing movements is distributed to the left foot with 46% and to the right foot with 54%. And, with the starting of down swing, as the weight shifts to the left foot, the force is distributed to the left sole with 58%. Thus, during the impact and follow through movements, it is desirable for a golfer to allow his left foot to take the weight with the right foot balancing the body. 4) The maximum pressure distribution and average of the maximum force in connection with the whole movement changed as the left (foot) and right (foot) supported opposing force, and the maximum pressure distribution also showed much greater on the left sole.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.29 no.5 s.142
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• pp.595-606
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to identify foot shapes of elderly women by classifying their foot types according to the shapes of sole (plantar view) of foot and analyzing the characteristics of each type. The subjects were 321 elderly women over 60 years of age. Their right feet were measured indirectly by using .scanner. The anthropometric measurements consist of 32 items. They were measured during the months of July and August in 2001. The results and discussions of this study are as follows. First, in analyzing sole of the foot of elderly women, the shapes of sole were classified as W-type (wider width for its length and severe alteration), A-type (similar to W-type but with narrower width), D-type (protruded outside) and H-type (even foot width). Second, the most characteristic sole type in elderly women was W-type. In this type, the width was wider for its length, the first metatarsophalangeal protrusion was severe and the toes were gathered at the center. Hopefully, understanding the shapes of sole and characteristics of each sole type will help to develop suitable shoes for elderly women.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 1992

The distribution of the pressure between the sole of a feet and a supporting surface can reveal the information about the structure and fonction of the foot and the posural control of the whole body. In particular, the measurement of the vertical contact forces between the plantar surface of the foot and the shoe insole is of great importance to reveal the loading distributio patterns incurred from a particular shoe midsole design. In order to investigate the plantar surface pressure distribution, an insole-type sensor with a piezoelectric material is developed and tested. The present paper describes a new method to completely reduce both the shear force and pyroelectric effects that are normally caused from piezoelectric materials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.459-469
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• 2012

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to examine changes caused by asymmetric bag carrying methods to carry the bag with one shoulder only to plantar pressure during walking. METHODS: Twenty three normal adults without any gait problem participated in the present study. Experimental conditions used consisted of walking without carrying any bag(condition 1), walking wearing a bag on both shouders (condition 2), and walking wearing a bag on the right shoulder(condition 3) and the weight of the bag was set to 15% of each subject's body weight. All the subjects were instructed to participate in all experiments under these three conditions and plantar pressures were measured from the subjects' right and left feet using an F-scan system while the subjects were walking under the three conditions. To analyze the measured plantar pressure, the sole was divided into seven areas (Hallux, Toe, Met1, Met23, Met45, Mid foot and Heel) and maximum plantar pressures in individual areas were measured. RESULTS: The results of measurement of plantar pressures under three walking conditions did not show significant changes in any areas of the left and right feet except for the mid foot area of the right food. The asymmetry between the left and right feet was examined and the results showed significant differences only in area Met23 under condition 2 and did not show significant differences in any other areas. CONCLUSION: On comprehensively considering the results of the present study, it could be seen that asymmetric bag carrying did not have large effects on changes in plantar pressure during walking compared to symmetric carrying. The reason for this is considered to be posture adjusting mechanisms against load positions.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.977-984
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• 2013

This study classified the type of sole for female high school students and analyzed the characteristics of each type by the shape of the sole (plantar view) using 2D scan data. The data were collected from a foot anthropometry of 310 female high school students in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do. Left feet and right feet were measured indirectly by using flatbed scanner. The sole anthropometric measurements consisted of 24 items. The results of the investigation into the differences between left and right feet soles by the 2D measurements data indicated that there was no significant statistical differences in the length of items. The left sole had higher values than right sole in the width items and angle items; however, the lateral side of the right feet projected to the outside more often than left feet. In analyzing foot sole of female high school students, the shapes of sole were classified into three types. Type 1(41.94%), Type 2(36.77%), Type 3(21.29%). The most characteristic sole type for female high school students was Type 1. Type 1 referred to a narrow foot width with little or no curvature of the toe. Type 2 represented the longest foot, with foot width shown as a spacious and distinctive feature in width at the medial area of the foot. Type 3 represented the shortest and widest of ball width, gathered inside toe 5, and lateral side as the most projected among the three types.

• 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.