Contact Area Of Foot Research Articles

Effect of handrail use while performing treadmill walking on the gait of stroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate how the use of handrails during treadmill walking affects the gait parameters of stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The participants, 30 hemiplegic stroke patients, were randomly allocated to one of three groups: the NHG group (No Handrail group, n=10), the FHG group (Front handrail group, n=10), and BHG group (Bilateral Handrail group, n=10). All the subjects’ performed treadmill walking for 30 min, five days a week, for a period of eight weeks. Gait parameters were evaluated using the RS-scan system. [Results] A statistically significant difference in the HM (heel-medial) area of plantar foot pressure was observed between BHG and NHG. Statistically significant difference in the HL (heel-lateral) area of plantar foot pressure was observed between BHG and NHG, and between FHG and NHG. A statistically significant difference in contact area of the rear foot was observed between BHG and NHG. [Conclusion] The results of this study show that holding handrails during treadmill training may enhance the improvement in the quality of patients’ gait (plantar foot pressure, contact area of foot).

Biomechanical analysis of smart walking shoe sending movement information to display device by radio communication

The purpose of this study was to find the difference in foot pressure patterns when wearing smart walking shoes. Foot pressure measurement is an established tool for the evaluation of foot function [1]. These measurements assess the effect of structural changes, which may occur as a complication of pathologies such as diabetes, and therefore have been suggested as one of the key tools in ulcer risk estimation [2]. The subjects who took part in the test consist of 5 elderly people and 5 young people. The physical features of the elderly people that were recruited for the study are shown below: 5 healthy male subjects (elderly people) with an average age of 62.0 yrs (S.D 1.0 yrs), weight of 69.4 kg (S.D 10.0 kg), height of 168.8 cm (S.D 5.3 cm) and a foot size of 270.0 mm (S.D 0.0 mm). 5 healthy male subjects (young people) with an average age of 27.2 yrs (S.D 4.1 yrs), weight of 75.2 kg (S.D 4.6 kg), height of 175.4 cm (S.D 4.0 cm) and a foot size of 270.0 mm (S.D 0.0 mm). Ten males (5 elderly people, 5 young people) walked on a treadmill wearing three different shoes. Foot pressure data (Contact areas, Maximum forece, Peak pressure, Maximum mean pressure) was collected using a Pedar-X mobile system (Novel Gmbh., Germany) operating at the 1,000 Hz. Figure 1 Type A: development shoes, Type B: control shoes, Type C: smart walking shoes Table 1 Result of Foot Pressure The results are as follows: 1. Young people In comparison with the Type B (control shoes): 1) Type A (development shoes) a)The contact area of foot (Total) by increased 8.36%, forefoot (M1) by increased 8.95%, midfoot (M2) by increased 12.18% and rearfoot (M3) by increased 4.48%. b)The maximum force of foot (Total) by decreased 4.02%, rearfoot (M3) by decreased 6.39%, while the maximum force of forefoot (M1) by increased 2.48% and midfoot (M2) by increased 17.52%. c)The peak pressure of foot (Total) by increased 2.28%, forefoot (M1) by increased 6.19%, while the peak pressure of midfoot (M2) by decreased 2.91% and rearfoot (M3) by decreased 13.69%. d)The maximum mean pressure of foot (Total) by decreased 12.74%, forefoot (M1) by decreased 6.90%, midfoot (M2) by decreased 2.79% and rearfoot (M3) by decreased 11.18%. 2) Type C (smart walking shoes) a)The contact area of foot (Total) by increased 7.96%, forefoot (M1) by increased 8.90%, midfoot (M2) by increased 11.81% and rearfoot (M3) by increased 3.50%. b)The maximum force of foot (Total) by decreased 5.27%, forefoot (M1) by decreased 0.67% and rearfoot (M3) by decreased 5.67%, while the maximum force of midfoot (M2) by increased 23.55%. c)The peak pressure of foot (Total) by decreased 6.70%, forefoot (M1) by decreased 3.35% and rearfoot (M3) by decreased 10.54%, while the peak pressure of midfoot (M2) by increased 2.19%. d)The maximum mean pressure of foot (Total) by decreased 10.97%, forefoot (M1) by decreased 7.62%, midfoot (M2) by decreased 1.15% and rearfoot (M3) by decreased 8.02%. 2. Elderly people In comparison with the Type B (control shoes): 1) Type A (development shoes) a)The contact area of foot (Total) by increased 8.09%, forefoot (M1) by increased 5.47%, midfoot (M2) by increased 22.66% and rearfoot (M3) by increased 3.21%. b)The maximum force of foot (Total) by decreased 2.13%, forefoot (M1) by decreased 3.53% and rearfoot (M3) by decreased 9.85%, while the maximum force of midfoot (M2) by increased 41.32%. c)The peak pressure of foot (Total) by decreased 11.02%, forefoot (M1) by decreased 11.24%, midfoot (M2) by decreased 2.81% and rearfoot (M3) by decreased 18.85%. d)The maximum mean pressure force of foot (Total) by decreased 10.60%, forefoot (M1) by decreased 7.05% and rearfoot (M3) by decreased 14.42%, while the maximum force of midfoot (M2) by increased 3.04%. 2) Type C (smart walking shoes) a)The contact area of foot (Total) by increased 7.08%, forefoot (M1) by increased 5.62%, midfoot (M2) by increased 17.14% and rearfoot (M3) by increased 3.12%. b)The maximum force of foot (Total) by decreased 1.47%, rearfoot (M3) by decreased 7.37%, while the maximum force of forefoot (M1) by increased 0.19% and midfoot (M2) by increased 24.15%. c)The peak pressure of foot (Total) by increased 0.03%, forefoot (M1) by increased 0.74%, while the peak pressure of midfoot (M2) by decreased 15.51% and rearfoot (M3) by decreased 14.73%. d)The maximum mean pressure of foot (Total) by decreased 8.95%, forefoot (M1) by decreased 5.62%, midfoot (M2) by decreased 6.30% and rearfoot (M3) by decreased 11.82%. As a result of analysis, it has been found that Type A and Type C have lower foot pressure (Total, M3) than Type B. Also, Type A and Type C show superior performance compared to Type B in all mask at contact area. Type A and Type C shoes will be used to reduce foot pressure and increase comfort and fitting.

A biomechanical research of foot pressure for lower extremity in gait wearing trail walking shoes

The aim of this study is to analyze foot pressure distribution of trail walking shoes while walking. Hiking, a recreational activity which is able to exercise whole body in the nature without any cost, has compositive effects which can reduce stress, strengthen muscles of entire body and improve cardiopulmonary function [1]. The Topography is hard near the surface and has rough characteristic because of rocks. These condition can lead to injuries to feet in hiking and aggravating fatigability of foot when people hike for a long time [2],so hiking boots which are specially functioned are encouraged because walking on the rough surface has latent dangerousness of injury [3]. Trail walking shoes generally provide more stability and support than regular walking shoes. Trail walking shoes are for natural trails. In rocky, rooted, dusty and muddy trails, a trail walking shoe gives added traction and support. Ten healthy males participated in this study. All subjects were free of lower extremity pain, history of serious injuries or operative treatment or subjective symptoms interfering with walking. Each subject wore four different shoe types during walking trials on a treadmill at a constant speed of 4.2km/hour. Pressure distribution data (contact area, maximum force, peak pressure, maximum mean pressure) were collected with pressure device at a sampling rate of 100Hz. Shoes used in the experiment are which developed in four shoes. Developed trail walking shoes (Type A), first developed trail walking shoes (Type B) and other company’s trail walking shoes (Type C, Type D) are selected for the experiment. Tested about ‘Comparison in Lightweightedness’ among the shoes (Figure ​(Figure1).1). ‘Comparison in Lightweightedness’s result is Type A (324.92 g) < Type B (350.70 g) < Type C (374.67 g) < Type D (397.16 g). Figure 1 Type A: developed trail walking shoes, Type B: first developed trail walking shoes, Type C, D: other company’s trail wxalking shoes Table 1 Result of Foot Pressure Contact area of functional shoes (Type A) increased in comparison to general shoes (Type C, Type D). At the same time, foot pressure decreased in comparison to general shoes (Type C, Type D). It is expected that Type A Functional shoes give more comfort and fit by increasing the contact area and decreasing peak pressure. In the result of the analysis of plantar pressure, Type A reported higher than other shoes on the forefoot. At the maximum force, Type A is observed as the smallest maximum force in almost part. These results, which is similar to Park (2009)’s research [3], decreased the confining pressure which can lead the deformation of forefoot’s toe. In the maximum pressure result, the outcome is similar to maximum force, which the smallest is Type A < Type D < Type B < Type C. This can decline the impulse which occurs in heel strike section, as a result, this can decrease the fatigability of foot in long-time walking. In addition, similar to Oh and Lee (2009)’s research [4], it can lighten the impulse force delivered to the body, as being the important factor which can decrease the weight to the leg joint. As examining the result of the average pressure, Type A < Type C < Type D < Type B is observed. In this thesis, we analyzed the contact area of plantar pressure, maximum force, maximum pressure, average pressure. Through this result, we can know impact force alleviation for foot and physical fatigue, too. When considering the pressure change of the foot, Type A’s contact area of foot is wider than the others. So, its wearing feeling will be better than the others. In case of maximum pressure, it is lower than the others and mid foot, hind foot’s result is similar. So, we expect ‘shockproof and to disperse pressure’ will be good. Also, with foot and shoe contact area’s increase, there may be amaximum force and maximum pressure decrease. So, it can decrease the foot’s and pelvic limb’s fatigue. We offer the data of the dispersing pressure functionality of walking hiking shoes, so it can be of help to a product’s functionality improvement.

Static and dynamic plantar pressure measurements in adolescents

This study was designed to determine normal values of pedobarography during standing and walking in adolescents in our country and to investigate correlations between demographic data and pedobarographic values. Fifty volunteers (25 girls, 25 boys; mean age 14 years; range 13 to 15 years) who were found to have healthy feet according to the AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) clinical rating system for the ankle and foot were enrolled into the study. Plantar pressures were measured during standing and walking tasks with the use of the Mini-Emed pedobarographic device. Static measurements showed significantly higher pedobarographic values for right medial forefoot and toes in girls, and for left midfoot in boys (p<0.05). Overall, no significant differences existed between static pressure values for the right and left feet. The mean right medial foot pressure was higher than that of the contralateral foot in girls. There were no significant differences between the right and left feet in boys. Dynamic measurements showed a significantly larger contact area of the right foot in boys, and a significantly higher maximum plantar pressure of the left medial forefoot in girls (p<0.05). The strength of the correlation of body weight and body mass index was high with maximum plantar pressures (r=0.87 and r=0.83), and moderate with contact area of the foot (r=0.63 and r=0.59) in static measurements. Body weight (r=0.64) and body mass index (r=0.54) were moderately correlated with contact area of the foot in dynamic measurements. Appreciation of normal plantar pressure values in adolescents is important in monitoring the development stages of foot, in the assessment of foot disorders, and in making proper footwear modifications in compliance with age.