Effects of Toe Separators on Women's Balance, Gait and Plantar Pressure during Walking

Abstract

<p>目的：本研究旨在佐證穿著市售分趾套對成年女性行走平衡、步態與足底壓力之具體效益，供消費者選購輔具時參考依據。方法：隨機招募40位自願參與的女性受試者，於穿著前、後測量前足寬度，透過足底壓力跑步機收取穿著與未穿著時之最大與最小水平、內外晃動軌跡、整體壓力面積與步幅長、步寬、足部旋轉和擺盪期百分比，將行走速度統一設定為3.8 (km/h)，以成對樣本t檢定考驗赤足與穿著分趾套行走時之前足寬度、水平與內、外軸向壓力晃動軌跡、壓力晃動面積與各項步態參數，接著以相依樣本二因子變異數分析，考驗赤足與穿著分趾套行走時三足區足底壓力差異 (a =.05)。結果：穿著分趾套前足寬顯著大於赤足，然最大、最小水平及內、外軸向晃動軌跡、整體面積、步幅長度、步寬、足部旋轉角度皆無顯著差異，但顯著降低擺盪期百分比。此外，穿著分趾套前足區足底壓力顯小於赤足，壓力峰值皆以中足區最低，其次為足跟區，最高為前足區。結論：分趾套因穿著時僅接觸到前足與腳趾區，故對提供中足區足弓支撐相當有限，在穿著後相較赤足之水平、內、外軸向與整體平衡表現的效果相似，但藉由穿著時提供腳趾區適當的包覆，可協助降低行走過程中前足區壓力峰值。建議女性消費者於行走過程中，若著重降低前足區壓力，則可選購此類分趾套於行走運動前穿著，進而提升運動品質。</p> <p> </p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the specific benefits as the references for consumers when purchasing aids. Finding out the influence on the walking balance, gait and plantar pressure while female adult wearing the commercially available split-toe aids. Methods: Forty voluntary female subjects were randomly recruited to measure the before and after of forefoot width. Using the plantar pressure treadmill to collect the maximum and minimum of horizontal, internal and external sway trajectories, overall force area, and the percentages of stride length, stride width, foot rotation and oscillation periods with and without the aids. Using two-way ANOVA to test the differences of plantar pressure (a = .05) between barefoot and walking with a split-toe aids in the three-foot region. Results: The width of the foot with the split-toe aids was significantly larger than that of the barefoot, but there were no significant differences in the maximum and minimum of horizontal, internal and external axial sway trajectories, overall area, stride length, stride width, and foot rotation angle. However, the percentage of swing period was significantly declined. In addition, the plantar pressure in the forefoot area was significantly less than that in barefoot, and the lowest peak rate of pressure was in the mid-foot area, followed by the heel area and the highest is in the forefoot area.The split-toe aids only attaches the forefoot and toe area, so it provides limited arch support to the mid-foot area. As to the horizontal, internal and external axial and overall balance performance is similar to barefoot condition. Conclusion: However, providing the proper coverage of the toe area when wearing the any item, it can help reduce the peak rate of pressure in the forefoot area during walking. It is recommended that female consumers who focus on reducing the pressure in the forefoot area during walking can purchase this type of split-toe aids to wear before doing the walking exercises in order to improve the quality of movement.</p> <p> </p>