Abstract
Rocker-soled shoes provide a way to reduce the possible concentration of stress, as well as change movement patterns, during gait. This study attempts to examine how plantar force and spatio-temporal variables are affected by two rocker designs, one with softer and one with denser sole materials, by comparing them with the barefoot condition and with flat-soled shoes. Eleven subjects’ gait parameters during walking and jogging were recorded. Our results showed that compared with barefoot walking, plantar forces were higher for flat shoes while lower for both types of rocker shoes, the softer-material rocker being the lowest. The plantar force of flat shoes is greater than the vertical ground reaction force, while that of both rocker shoes is much less, 13.87–30.55% body weight. However, as locomotion speed increased to jogging, for all shoe types, except at the second peak plantar force of the denser sole material rocker shoes, plantar forces were greater than for bare feet. More interestingly, because the transmission of force was faster while jogging, greater plantar force was seen in the rocker-soled shoes with softer material than with denser material; results for higher-speed shock absorption in rocker-soled shoes with softer material were thus not as good. In general, the rolling phenomena along the bottom surface of the rocker shoes, as well as an increase in the duration of simultaneous curve rolling and ankle rotation, could contribute to the reduction of plantar force for both rocker designs. The possible mechanism is the conversion of vertical kinetic energy into rotational kinetic energy. To conclude, since plantar force is related to foot-ground interface and deceleration methods, rocker-design shoes could achieve desired plantar force reduction through certain rolling phenomena, shoe-sole stiffness levels, and locomotion speeds.
Highlights
In order to treat, rehabilitate, or carry out preventative care, clinicians often develop customized foot orthoses, the rocker-soled shoes, with a specially curved outer sole
In order to investigate how shoe sole design and materials influence gait pattern and plantar force, this study examined four foot-ground interface conditions: barefoot (Bare), flat shoes (Flat), rocker shoe-soles with a softer material in the midsole (Rocker-1), and rocker shoe-soles with a denser material in the midsole (Rocker-2)
This study attempts to examine of how plantar force and spatio-temporal variables are affected by two new rocker designs, with softer and denser soles materials, respectively, by comparing with barefoot and flat-soled shoes
Summary
Rehabilitate, or carry out preventative care, clinicians often develop customized foot orthoses, the rocker-soled shoes, with a specially curved outer sole. These allow smooth progression through the stand phase of gait, reduce overbending of foot joints, and reduce local impacts and stresses on the foot [1]. The biomechanical effects of rocker-soled shoes are those of reinstating the lost motion of the lower extremities and reducing plantar. Da Sheng provided and manufactured the shoes; NCKU provided the verification instrument; ITRI provided the experimental site and experimental instruments. There was no additional external funding received for this study
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