The effects of various types of shoe on lower extremity during walking

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of various types of shoe on lower extremities during walking. In this experiment, normal walking shoe, unstable shoe (Masai Barefoot Technology, MBT), newly developed shoe of heel for cushion (BOSS Corps., Korea) were compared. Three-dimensional motion analysis techniques were used to acquire kinematic and kinetic data. Six Falcon high speed digital motion capture cameras (Motion Analysis Corp. Santa Rosa, CA USA) and two force plates (AMTI, Inc., MA, USA) were used. Variables for analysis were joint angles (range of motion, angle trajectory), joint moments for each gait event and ground reaction force (loading rate/decay rate, max vertical ground reaction force). The results showed that there were different effects of types of shoe on lower extremity. Joint angle trajectory of ankle, joint range of motion (ROM) of hip, peak force, and ankle joint moment were significantly different among shoe types. MBT provided deceased joint loading. Newly developed shoe of heel for cushion provided deceased impelling force and loading rate. To clarify this result, further study is necessary to add several variables: EMG, long-term effects and upper body motion.