Shoe Design Research Articles

INNOVATIVE FOOTWEAR DESIGN FOR AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS: MERGING AESTHETICS AND SENSORY NEEDS

The integration of repetitive visual patterns and geometric shapes in footwear design for autistic individuals presents an innovative approach that transcends mere aesthetics. This strategy aims to address the sensory and emotional needs of users, highlighting the importance of visual stimuli in promoting focus and mental organization—key elements for those facing sensory challenges. Research indicates that emphasizing symmetry and repetition in design can create visually pleasing footwear while also facilitating better concentration. Various studies suggest that the perceptual abilities and visual processing strategies of autistic individuals can be harnessed to foster richer and more effective learning experiences, aiding in the development of essential social and cognitive skills. Furthermore, the selection of comfortable materials and the consideration of ergonomic design are crucial to ensure that the shoes are not only visually appealing but also functional and comfortable for everyday wear. By focusing on these aspects, footwear can serve as more than just a fashion statement; it can become a tool for enhancing the quality of life for autistic individuals. The thoughtful combination of art, comfort, and sensory experience in shoe design promotes inclusion and celebrates the uniqueness of each individual. This approach fosters a deep connection between the user and the product, ultimately contributing to a more supportive and understanding environment for those on the autism spectrum.

Horseshoe effects on equine gait-A systematic scoping review.

To provide an overview of available research about effects of horseshoes on equine kinetics and kinematics. The terms, "horse/equine," "hoof," "shoes/horseshoes," "kinetics," and "kinematics" were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International, and United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library for manuscripts from first availability to 2024. Independent reviewers used preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines to map and extract evidence-based data from sources. Metrics included participant demographics, research methods, major findings, and study limitations. Knowledge gaps were also identified. A total of 46 studies were included. Most utilized non-lame horses to compare original shoe designs or modifications to unshod or a standard open-heel shoe. Horse demographics and gait, study design and outcome measures varied widely. Prevalent data collection equipment included force platforms and pressure plates, wearable force measuring technology, and videography. Many studies reported shoeing effects on limb forces and motion, but there was little consensus among unrelated studies. Common limitations included insufficient data resolution, no randomization, small sample size, single breed, and outcome measures specific or unique to the study. Knowledge gaps included data collection from all limbs and the impact of conformation and limb and hoof morphology and health condition on outcomes. Information from manuscripts that met inclusion criteria confirmed distinct, variable effects of shoe characteristics on equine gait parameters. Details from published work can serve as resource for clinical decisions and to guide standardization among investigations on shoe configuration effects on equine motion.

Sticky feet: a tribological study of climbing shoe rubber

This study examines the tribological properties of climbing shoe rubbers, challenging the common belief in the climbing community that softer rubbers are inherently grippier. This study investigates the mechanical and wear characteristics of climbing shoe rubbers by employing a high-precision modular mechanical testing environment (Bruker UMT TriboLab) and representative granite counter-surfaces. Key parameters, including surface roughness, Shore A hardness, interfacial adhesion, static and dynamic friction coefficients, and material wear patterns, were analyzed. The mechanical properties of each rubber compound were characterized through Shore A hardness testing and ball indentation–retraction tests, measuring indentation force, energy, and adhesive properties. Sliding friction tests, simulating real climbing conditions, were conducted to understand the tribological behavior of each rubber compound under different loads, further analyzing static and dynamic friction coefficients and wear characteristics. The findings of this study indicate that rubber performance is a convolution of several factors, including material hardness, surface roughness, and interfacial adhesion. Contrary to popular belief, softer rubbers did not consistently exhibit superior tribological characteristics. The findings of this study suggest that climbing shoe selection and design should consider a broader range of material characteristics beyond hardness, emphasizing the role of surface roughness and adhesion in determining overall frictional performance. This research offers valuable insights for the climbing community, providing methodologies to benchmark climbing rubber material characteristics.

High Rate of Change of the Foot in Ecuadorian Children: The Need for Proper Shoe Design.

Physiological changes in the foot may be influenced by external factors such as shoe types or demographic parameters, leading to podiatric conditions in adulthood. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in morphological measurements of the feet of boys and girls during childhood and adolescence. A total of 1678 Ecuadorian children aged 8 to 17 years participated in the study. The length, width, and height of the foot were analyzed using a 3D scanner to obtain the arch height ratio for the diagnosis of pediatric flat foot. Statistical differences were observed for lengths, widths, and perimeters of the foot in boys aged 5 to 15-16 years and girls aged 5 to 12-13 years. Differences in the height of the navicular bone were found in all age groups, with changes from 2.8 to 4.1% in boys and from 1.3 to 1.5% in girls. The greatest differences between boys and girls of the same age were found at 14 years old onwards. The highest prevalence of flat foot was found in 8-year-old girls (64.9%) and in 12-year-old boys (82.5%). The feet of Ecuadorian children develop progressively during childhood and adolescence. Boys presented with longer and wider feet than girls of the same age. The highest prevalence of flat foot was found in 12-year-old boys and 8-year-old girls.

Efficacy of auxetic lattice structured shoe sole in advancing footwear comfort-From the perspective of plantar pressure and contact area.

Designing footwear for comfort is vital for preventing foot injuries and promoting foot health. This study explores the impact of auxetic structured shoe soles on plantar biomechanics and comfort, motivated by the integration of 3D printing in footwear production and the superior mechanical properties of auxetic designs. The shoe sole designs proposed in this study are based on a three-dimensional re-entrant auxetic lattice structure, orthogonally composed of re-entrant hexagonal honeycombs with internal angles less than 90 degrees. Materials fabricated using this lattice structure exhibit the characteristic of a negative Poisson's ratio, displaying lateral expansion under tension and densification under compression. The study conducted a comparative experiment among three different lattice structured (auxetic 60°, auxetic 75° and non-auxetic 90°) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) shoe soles and conventional polyurethane (PU) shoe sole through pedobarographic measurements and comfort rating under walking and running conditions. The study obtained peak plantar pressures (PPPs) and contact area across seven plantar regions of each shoe sole and analyzed the correlation between these biomechanical parameters and subjective comfort. Compared to non-auxetic shoe soles, auxetic structured shoe soles reduced PPPs across various foot regions and increased contact area. The Auxetic 60°, which had the highest comfort ratings, significantly lowered peak pressures and increased contact area compared to PU shoe sole. Correlation analysis showed that peak pressures in specific foot regions (hallux, second metatarsal head, and hindfoot when walking; second metatarsal head, third to fifth metatarsal head, midfoot, and hindfoot when running) were related to comfort. Furthermore, the contact area in all foot regions was significantly associated with comfort, regardless of the motion states. The pressure-relief performance and conformability of the auxetic lattice structure in the shoe sole contribute to enhancing footwear comfort. The insights provided guide designers in developing footwear focused on foot health and comfort using auxetic structures.

DO RUGBY BOOTS WITH A BLADED STUD INCREASE CONTACT PRESSURES THROUGH THE FIFTH METATARSAL COMPARED WITH A ROUNDED STUD? A BIOMECHANICAL STUDY

Fifth metatarsal fractures in sport are known to be associated with acceleration and cross cutting movements when running. It is also established that playing surface has an impact on the ground reaction forces through the foot, increasing the strain through the fifth metatarsal. But what impact does boot design have on these forces? Current thought is that boots that utilise a blade stud design resist sideways slipping of the planted foot more than boots with a rounded stud. This study aims to compare ground reaction forces through the fifth metatarsal in 2 two different designs of rugby boot to assess what impact stud design might have. The forces across the foot were measured using Tekscan in-shoe pressure plates in 24 rugby players. Each player was asked to complete an agility course to measure acceleration, cutting and cross-cutting in the two different designs of rugby boot, reproducing true playing conditions. The boots used were the Canterbury Phoenix Club 8 Stud boot and the Canterbury Speed Club Blade boot. The trial was conducted on an 4G artificial pitch at the Cardiff Arms Park rugby ground. Ethical approval was obtained from Bath University and a research grant was provided by British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. The blade boot had significantly higher contact pressures than the stud boot on the fifth metatarsal in the combined movements (17.909 ± 10.442 N/cm2 Blade Vs 16.888 ± 9.992 N/cm2 Boot; P < .0125; n= 864 steps in each boot group). The blade boot also produced higher pressure during cross-cutting (32.331 ± 13.568 N/cm2 Vs 27.651 ± 15.194 N/cm2 p < 0.007). Pressures were also higher in both acceleration and cutting, although not significantly so. These results will guide clinicians advising athletes in shoe design, especially those predisposed to or rehabilitating from a fifth metatarsal fracture.

Measurement and Analysis of ground reaction forces Distribution and electromyography for Ankle Joint Fixation Injury Using Different Types of Shoes

One of the health issues that many people encounter on a daily basis is bone fracture, which can happen for a number of reasons, such as arthritis, sprains, or external trauma . The patient experiences instability as a result of these issues . Internal fixation is a type of surgery used to support and mend a damaged bone Treatment options include ankle joint fixation, a surgical procedure employing pins, plates, rods, or screws. This study uses gait analysis methods to assess lower limb biomechanics . Gait analysis is vital for understanding walking patterns and intervention effectiveness. The impact of different shoe designs on ankle mechanics, using the finite element method and ANSYS, is investigated The results of the EMG and the GRF were discussed. This research deepens our understanding of lower limb biomechanics and ankle joint health. By evaluating stress effects and designing custom shoes, it enhances ankle injury treatment and management strategies. The patient, a 70-year-old woman with an internal fixation on her ankle joint, underwent a CT scan of her ankle. The patient underwent a number of experiments to evaluate her stability. EMG was used to determine the muscle stress for a brief period of time, and ground reaction force was then used to determine the pressure of walking. Both EMG and GRF have two walking speeds of1.5and 2 km/h while wearing four different types of shoes. The behavior of the EMG demonstrates that the stress on the muscle increases as walking speed increases, and the results varies depending on the shoe. The patient is afraid to apply pressure to the injured foot, so the health foot has better pressure over the entire foot

Design element extraction of plantar pressure imaging employing meta-learning-based graphic convolutional neural networks

Segmenting plantar pressure images intelligently can provide valuable insight for people with high blood pressure, making bespoke footwear requirements possible and resulting in more comfortable shoe designs. It is, however, difficult to extract design elements from a segmented image dataset. To address this challenge, we propose an ML-GNN model that segments plantar pressure images using metal-earning. The first part of the paper presents a method for extracting image features that reduce the complexity of the ML-GNN algorithm. To create the network structure, we propose optimization meta-based learning. Using a meta-learning-based graphic neural network, we enhance our mask-based CNN prediction model with VGG16 and CNN layers. We pre-processed the plantar pressure dataset using pressure-sensing data acquisition and compared the results. By defining standard image segmentation indices, we demonstrate the high effectiveness of our research. We have developed an ML-GNN model that improves the segmentation accuracy of plantar pressure images and can also be applied to other sensor image datasets. Through our shoe-last customization approach, we enable the shoe industry to manufacture shoes more efficiently, particularly for people with specific healthcare needs who require bespoke shoe designs. Our findings demonstrate the potential of intelligent image segmentation to advance the field of footwear design and improve the lives of people with specific health requirements.

Study on Vibration Damping and Buffering Mechanism of Soles With Layered Gradient Lattice Structure

The damping performance of shoes is becoming increasingly important. In general, lattice materials have excellent mechanical properties, such as high specific strength and high specific rigidity, which are widely used in various fields of modern industry. In this paper, four different lattice structures are used in soles and analyzed for shock absorption. Firstly, hierarchical gradient structures are designed based on the four lattice structures, each with six series of gradients, respectively. Secondly, the modal test of the ordinary sole was carried out, and the finite element analysis results are compared and verified. Finally, the vibration reduction effect of each sole is evaluated by the acceleration vibration level difference, power flow, and the vibration energy flux ratio. The results show that the sole with an X lattice structure and Series 6 gradient has the best vibration damping performance. This paper provides a method and basis for the design and optimization of shoes in the future.

Shoe Customizer

This project presents the development of a Unity WebGL application titled "Shoe Customizer" within the context of an internship at WebWorld Developing. The application offers users the ability to personalize shoe designs by adjusting colors and materials, providing an engaging and interactive experience. The project involved utilizing Unity's game development platform, WebGL technology for web deployment, and a combination of programming languages such as C# and JavaScript. The report outlines the objectives, methodology, and implementation details of the project, including the design process, software development lifecycle, and user testing procedures. Furthermore, it discusses the challenges encountered during development and the solutions devised to overcome them. Through this project, valuable insights into web-based 3D customization applications and their potential applications in e-commerce and interactive marketing are gained, highlighting the significance of immersive digital experiences in engaging and satisfying user interactions.

Do the feet of male and female netball players differ in shape? Implications for shoe design

ABSTRACT A large proportion of netball players suffer foot-related problems and pain and are dissatisfied with current netball-specific footwear. To improve the fit and functionality of netball-specific shoes, we must understand the shape of these players’ feet and determine whether any sex differences exist. Five hundred and two representative-level netball players (n = 251 male; n = 251 female) had their feet three-dimensionally scanned. We then used a validated MATLAB code to automatically extract 10 measurements to characterise each participant’s foot shape. Differences between men and women for the absolute values and those normalised to foot length and stature were identified using independent samples t-tests with a Bonferroni adjusted alpha level. The size and shape of male netball players’ feet differed significantly from their female counterparts. Males had significantly larger absolute and normalised foot measurements than females, notably at the ball of the foot, heel and instep (p < 0.001). Netball shoe manufacturers should develop unique lasts for each sex and foot size and should offer a more extensive range of shoe lengths and widths to netball players. Such considerations will help optimise shoe fit and comfort and, in turn, reduce foot-related problems and pain associated with ill-fitting footwear.

Modeling Running via Optimal Control for Shoe Design.

Shoe manufacturing technology is advancing faster than new shoe designs can viably be evaluated in human subject trials. To aid in the design process, this paper presents a model for estimating how new shoe properties will affect runner performance. This model assumes runners choose their gaits to optimize an intrinsic, unknown objective function. To learn this objective function, a simple two-dimensional mechanical model of runners was used to predict their gaits under different objectives, and the resulting gaits were compared to data from real running trials. The most realistic model gaits, i.e., the ones that best matched the data, were obtained when the model runners minimized the impulse they experience from the ground as well as the mechanical work done by their leg muscles. Using this objective function, the gait and thus performance of running under different shoe conditions can be predicted. The simple model is sufficiently sensitive to predict the difference in performance of shoes with disruptive designs but cannot distinguish between existing shoes whose properties are fairly similar. This model therefore is a viable tool for coarse-grain exploration of the design space and identifying promising behaviors of truly novel shoe materials and designs.

The Effects of Pointe Shoes on Ballet Dancers' Biomechanics, Muscle Activity, Movement and Symptoms: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Dancing en pointe requires ballet dancers to stand on the tips of their toes while wearing a structured pointe shoe. Understanding the effect of pointe shoes on ballet dancers' biomechanics, function, symptoms and skin health is essential to guide shoe development and ultimately improve dancer performance. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to map the evidence and identify knowledge gaps related to the effect of wearing pointe shoes on professional and recreational ballet dancers. Method: A scoping review was conducted by searching 6 electronic databases and the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science Bibliography. Results: Thirty-five studies were grouped into 5 categories: pointe shoe factors (eg, toe box and shank, pointe shoe status; 9 studies), shoe types (eg, flat shoes vs demi pointe vs pointe; 10 studies), ballet movements (11 studies), symptoms (5 studies), and intrinsic dancer factors (eg, foot type/toe length; 7 studies). Studies were published between 1979 and 2023, with 72% (n = 23) published between 2006 and 2020. Most (86%) of the studies were cross-sectional. Most studies explored biomechanical outcomes and the most common data collection device was force plates (19 studies). Overall, there was an insufficient volume of evidence for specific research aims. Significant gaps in knowledge exist regarding functional and performance-based outcomes, injury outcomes including exploration of factors such as shoe age/usage, and pointe shoe treatment factors. Conclusions: Currently the field of research suffers from threats to ecological validity, with many study methods not reflecting ballet-specific demands or environments. The impact of pointe shoes on ballet dancers is a developing research area, and this scoping review can help guide future research decisions. Studies need to target the knowledge gaps and employ rigorous ecologically valid study designs and ensure that findings inform shoe design and dancer education to minimize injury and maximize comfort and performance.

Effects of 10KM run on foot morphology and bilateral symmetry in male recreational runners.

Foot morphology and arch integrity do not remain constant during a running bout. Previous studies have reported inconsistent changes in foot sizes and arch parameters and this discrepancy may be related to the variation in their test duration, e.g., 15-min treadmill run vs. 30KM trial. Hence, this study sought to evaluate the change in foot morphology, arch integrity and bilateral symmetry after a 10KM run among 19 male recreational runners. Before and after the run, a portable foot scanner was used to capture the 3-dimensional foot images and measure foot dimensions in both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions. Foot arch integrity was quantified by arch height ratio, arch height index, and arch stiffness index (ASI). Bilateral symmetry was evaluated by calculating the symmetry index. Increased foot length (p = 0.007; = 0.18) and decreased ball girth (p = 0.038; = 0.11) were demonstrated following the run with absolute differences of less than 2mm. Navicular height, dorsum height, arch height ratio and arch height index significantly decreased after the run (p < 0.001; ≥0.30) whereas ASI increased (p < 0.001, = 0.33) and navicular height drop reduced (p < 0.001, = 0.37). Significances of symmetry index were only demonstrated for navicular height (p = 0.019, effect size = 0.37) and arch height ratio (p = 0.019, effect size = 0.42). A few changes in foot morphology were detected but a reduction in foot arch height was demonstrated, which may give shoe manufacturers insights into shoe design. Male recreational runners were recommended to choose shoes with arch support for maintaining foot arch function during a 10KM run.

Lateral Ankle Sprain: Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, and Group-specified Guidelines

Lateral ankle sprains are a prevalent and diverse injury, but unfortunately, in previous studies, there are few clear guidelines for categorized patient groups to face it. So, this article aims to present a comprehensive guide for specific patient groups to make right the decisions when facing the problem of lateral ankle sprain by comparing and analyzing epidemiology, prevention, and treatment strategies of lateral ankle sprain. Risking factors are revealed in Epidemiological studies. The advantages and disadvantages of prevention strategies including taping &amp; bracing, shoe design, and exercise programs are discussed. And surgical and conservative treatments are compared. For suggestions, athletes should apply a balanced approach involving taping, bracing, exercise programs, and surgical options. Non-athlete individuals engaging in sports activities should make their prevention and treatment choices based on their functional demands. Those less sport-inclined can employ few preventions and choose more conservative treatments.

Optimum design of the geometry of boots and socks with the aim of minimum weight and preventing frostbite.

In order to design shoes suitable for cold environments, knowledge of the thermal conditions inside the shoes and the variables affecting those conditions is necessary. A two-dimensional model of a boot and sock was developed to investigate the effect of the materials and dimensions of various parts of shoes and to design geometry for them to prevent foot frostbite. The optimization algorithm was used to optimize the dimensions of the boots to maximize the minimum foot temperature with the lowest boot weight. Two types of shoe soles and two kinds of shoe uppers were used to design suitable shoes. The results show the following: (1) In the design boots, the thermal insulation of the toe area plays an essential role in preventing frostbite. Two variables of the thickness of the toe cap and the length of the shoe sole had the greatest impact on the design of shoes with the least weight and the most protection against frostbite. So that to increase minimum foot temperature from 7°C to 15°C, 16°C, or 17°C, only the amounts of these variables should increase. (2) In designing the suitable boot, choosing the proper shoe sole had a significant effect on increasing the thermal insulation in the shoe and reducing its weight. So, for the boot with a minimum foot temperature of 20°C, by changing the shoe sole from EVA08 to EVA12, the weight is reduced by 42%. (3) To maximize the minimum foot temperature, it is necessary to use thick socks.

Investigation of a New Vibration-Absorbing Roller Cage Shoe with a Magnetorheological Damper in Mine Hoisting Systems

In the mine hoisting system, rigid guide failures and the influence of internal and external airflow intensify vessel transverse vibration, heightening demands on operational safety and equipment reliability. This paper focuses on integrating magnetorheological dampers and disc springs as the roller cage shoe buffer for vibration control, resulting in an innovative buffer device. The structure and magnetic circuit were meticulously designed. Using Maxwell simulation, we analyzed the impact of magnetic circuit parameters—specifically the damping gap and core radius—on the magnetorheological damper. We optimized these parameters through orthogonal testing to enhance damping and vibration reduction. This led to a notable 58% increase in the damper output force. A virtual prototype of the lifting system under actual working conditions was established. A simulation analysis verified the vibration-damping performance of the optimized roller cage shoe. The results indicate that the new roller cage shoes effectively inhibit transverse vibration, surpassing traditional roller cage shoe performance. This is scientifically and practically significant for ensuring safe cage shoe lifting system operation. This paper can provide a crucial theoretical basis for the design of roller cage shoes in ultra-deep mine lifting systems.

Implementation of LoRa Wireless Communication in Smart Diabetic Shoes Design

Diabetes is a widespread medical condition affecting a substantial portion of the global population. It is a metabolic disorder known as diabetes mellitus, characterized by severe fluctuations in blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production in the human body. The effective monitoring of diabetes is of paramount importance to researchers as it holds the potential to enhance the quality of healthcare services. Among the challenges faced by individuals with diabetes, one prevalent issue is the development of ulcers, which can be challenging to detect promptly. Technological advancements offer a promising avenue for cost-effective and continuous monitoring of chronic diseases like diabetes. This study centers on the development of IoT-based intelligent diabetic footwear that incorporates pressure sensors and temperature monitoring for individuals with diabetic feet. In the evaluation of SX1278 (Ra-02) Lora Module communication, deployed at eight different locations, it was observed that two of these points achieved a flawless transmission success rate of 100%. Conversely, the communication failed at points 6 and 7, with a success rate falling below 50%. Some of these failures can be attributed to signal obstructions, including natural elements such as trees and terrain, as well as man-made structures like buildings and machinery workshops, which hinder the efficient transmission of signals from the end node to the gateway. The results of this research provide positive implications in the form of developing IoT-based diabetes shoes that can be applied with alternative Lora communication connections in areas with poor internet signal.

Design Research on the Demands of Older Adults: A User-Centered Case Study of Shoes

Older people’s foot shape and physiological characteristics are very different from those of younger people. It is difficult for older adults to choose appropriate shoes in the market. This paper explores a design method for shoes for older adults who take part in activities and puts forward a feasible design strategy combined with the actual situation. The purpose of this study was to promote a shoe design strategy for older adults, to avoid inconveniences brought by unfit shoes and improve their quality of life. Two questionnaire surveys (a random questionnaire and a targeted questionnaire) were conducted to determine the demands of the users. According to the random questionnaire, three groups of older adults were identified based on their activity intensity: 1) no activity, 2) low-intensity activity, and 3) high-intensity activity. The targeted questionnaire aimed to screen the participants with activities to analyze their shoe needs and preferences. Five in-depth interviews were conducted to classify the demands on different occasions of the target group. Five reasonable scenarios of hiking, traveling, dancing, walking, and formal occasions were summarized according to older adults’ demands for shoes, and the demand models were developed respectively. To illustrate the feasibility of this method, we designed a pair of summer sports shoes for men based on the demand model and the foot morphology of older adults. The shoes designed by this method could better care for older adults’ foot health and meet their physiological and psychological needs.

FAT-integrated pedagogy: a case study of footwear product design instruction in higher education

ABSTRACT Facing the drawback of the traditional product design approach and educational courses, this study aimed to explore an innovative approach through which synthesised knowledge and skills of product design in Function (F), Aesthetics (A) and Technology (T) can be integrated into the instruction of art and design subjects in higher education. With shoe modelling as a study case, experiments with the involvement of 19 participants were conducted to test a traditional shoe design method and a FAT-integrated shoe design method in terms of efficiency, flexibility and accuracy. The results demonstrated that the FAT-integrated shoe design method was more advantages than the traditional method. The study can conclude that the FAT-integrated shoe design method can not only propel the efficiency of product design but also the quality. It can enhance the quality of higher education in art and design subjects and promote the new technology application in traditional labour-intensive industries.