Types Of Footwear Research Articles

The Production and Consumption of Lawn-Tennis Shoes in Late-Victorian Britain

AbstractThe lawn-tennis shoe was a popular, widely available commodity in late-Victorian Britain. Associated with new forms of sporting practice and consumption, this type of footwear was mass-produced in modern factories, promoted in the popular leisure press, and sold to both men and women in a variety of retail environments. This article analyzes processes of product innovation, production, and sale, and it situates the shoes within a wider context of sport, commerce, fashion, and class and gender relations. Like other late-Victorian sporting and recreational practices, lawn tennis combined material objects, physical activity, and the stylized display of gender and class ideals. Footwear was valued for symbolic and physically practical reasons. Ideas of intended use determined its design and material form. Sportswear created and communicated new masculine ideals. As lawn-tennis shoes moved from the court into everyday usage, the meanings attached to them accommodated a broader range of practices and contexts.

Human movement analysis in evaluation of the risk of falls in younger and older workers while wearing protective footwear

The objective of the work was to determine whether human movement analysis would reveal differences between younger and older workers using two types of protective footwear. The study group was composed of 40males (20 younger and 20 older subjects). Two types of protective footwear differing in terms of construction were selected: sandal-like footwear with a low shoe collar (type A) and ankle boots with a high collar and ankle support (type B). The subjects performed simple activities, such as walking on a treadmill and climbing stairs. Measurements involved angles at the right and left knee, hip, and talocrural joints. It was found that gait analysis is not sufficiently sensitive to determine which protective footwear construction leads to a greater risk of falling in younger and older workers. The tests did provide information concerning differences in gait biomechanics between younger and older subjects wearing protective footwear.

Evaluation of Energy Expenditure when Wearing Maximum Cushioned Running Shoes

Popularity of wearing maximum cushioned (MC) shoes by long-distance runners has increased over the last several years, primarily for the purpose of injury prevention and reduced stress. While maximum cushioning on the heels and midsoles can provide maximum shock absorption, the added weight of the shoes could negatively affect running economy. Previous research on the effects of various footwear types on energy expenditure has yielded conflicting results. PURPOSE: to determine the differences in energy expenditure among MC and standard (ST) footwear types. METHODS: Sixteen runners (8M/8F; age = 27.90 ± 13.13 years; weight = 71.2 3± 10.14 kg; height = 174.7 ± 6.51 cm) participated in the study. In a single data collection session, the participant was asked to complete three 6-minute running trials on a treadmill at a self-selected pace, under different footwear conditions. Footwear conditions included MC shoes (HOKA Conquest), ST shoes (New Balance Running Course), and ST shoes with the weight matched to the MC shoes (ST-W). A minimum of a 4-minute break was given between trials, and the order of the footwear conditions was randomized. For each running trial, oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), energy expenditure (kcal), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for each dependent variable (α=0.05). RESULTS: Overall, there was no difference among shoe conditions for any of the dependent variables. No difference in the average HR was observed among footwear conditions (MC= 161 ± 14.6, ST= 163 ± 11.9, ST-W= 162 ± 12.7 bpm; p>0.05). There was no difference among footwear conditions on average VO2 (MC= 42.7 ± 4.89, ST= 42.6 ± 5.30, ST-W= 42.9 ± 5.39 ml/kg/min; p>0.05) or energy expenditure (MC= 15.3 ± 3.21, ST= 15.3 ± 3.28, ST-W= 15.4 ± 3.34 kcal/min; p>0.05). Similarly, no difference in the RPE was observed among footwear conditions (MC= 12.5 ± 1.46, ST= 12.3 ± 1.40, ST-W= 12.5 ± 1.41; p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Additional weight of the MC shoes or adding weight to the ST shoes did not change energy expenditure and other physiologic measures, as compared with the ST shoe condition, during a 6-minute run. Mechanical benefits of the MC shoes are unknown, however the maximum cushioning did not seem to affect running economics.

Influence of Footwear Type on Barbell Back Squat Using 50, 70, and 90% of One Repetition Maximum: A Biomechanical Analysis.

The effect of footwear type was investigated during the barbell back squat using three-dimensional motion analysis and ground reaction force data. Nine male participants (mean age = 26.4 ± 5.4 years, height = 1.79 ± 0.08 m, and mass = 84.7 ± 16.1 kg) completed 2 experimental testing sessions wearing 2 different forms of training footwear: (a) standard sports trainers (running shoes [RS]) and (b) specialized weightlifting shoes (WS). On each test day, participants completed a sequence of 5, 3, and 1 repetitions of a barbell back squat using 50, 70, and 90%, respectively, of their 1 repetition maximum (1RM) load in each of the shoe conditions. Shoe order, which was initially randomly assigned for test day 1, was reversed on test day 2. Significant main effects were found for peak dorsiflexion of both left (p < 0.001) and right (p < 0.001) ankles. Pairwise post hoc comparisons showed that the RS condition exhibited significantly more dorsiflexion compared with the WS condition in both left and right ankles. There was also a significant main effect of load (%1RM) within the left ankle (p < 0.01) with post hoc comparisons showing that there was a significant increase in peak dorsiflexion angle from 50 to 90% (p ≤ 0.05) and 70-90% of 1RM (p ≤ 0.05) but no difference between 50 and 70% of 1RM (p = 1.000). These findings indicate that further investigation is necessary to substantiate claims regarding the benefits of wearing WS during resistance training exercises targeting the squat movement.

XVII amžiaus Žagarės miestiečių avalynė

Straipsnyje, remiantis archeologiniais duomenimis, apžvelgiama XVII–XVIII a. Lietuvos periferijos miestelių avalynė. Kaip tipinės miestiečių avalynės pavyzdžiai detaliai pristatomi ir analizuojami XVII a. avalynės radiniai, aptikti Žagarės miesto archeologinių kasinėjimų (archeologas Ernestas Vasiliauskas) metu. Aptikti du pusbačiai ir trys klepės iki šiol yra vieninteliai informatyviausi miestiečių avalynę reprezentuojantys archeologiniai radiniai, surasti ne Lietuvos reikšmingiausių senųjų prekybos miestų teritorijoje, o periferijos miesteliuose. Radiniai autoriaus konservuoti ir restauruoti, aptartos tokio pobūdžio radinių konservavimo ir restauravimo problemos, siekiant maksimaliai išsaugoti jų informatyvumą tolesniam įvairiapusiam pažinimui. Ištirta radinių konstrukcija ir medžiagiškumas, atskleista avalynės gamybos technologija. Radiniai palyginti su to laikotarpio Vakarų Europos analogais.

Medial Longitudinal Arch Development of Children Aged 7 to 9 Years: Longitudinal Investigation.

It is unclear at what age the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of the foot becomes stable in children. The influence of footwear on MLA development also is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the MLA development of children using a longitudinal approach. The relationship between wearing different types of footwear and MLA development also was explored longitudinally. This was a longitudinal cohort observational study. The MLA of 111 healthy children (mean age=6.9 years, SD=0.3) was evaluated using 3 parameters (arch index [AI], midfoot peak pressure [PP], and maximum force [MF]) extracted from dynamic foot loading measurements at baseline (t0), 10-month follow-up (t1), and 22-month follow-up (t2). Information on footwear usage was surveyed. Linear mixed modeling was used to test for differences in MLA over time. The MLA of the children remained stable over time (AI: t0/t1/t2=0.25 [95% confidence interval (CI)=0.24, 0.26]/0.25 [95% CI=0.24, 0.26]/0.25 [95% CI=0.24, 0.26]; P=.95). When the children's sex was considered, the AI of boys decreased (higher arch) with age (0.26 [95% CI=0.24, 0.27]/0.25 [95% CI=0.24, 0.27]/0.25 [95% CI=0.23, 0.27]; P=.02). Boys also displayed a flatter MLA than girls at age 6.9 years (AI: mean difference=0.02 [95% CI=0.01, 0.04]; P=.02). At baseline, children who wore closed-toe shoes displayed the lowest MLA overall (AI: closed-toe shoes/sandals/slippers=0.26 [95% CI=0.24, 0.28]/0.24 [95% CI=0.23, 0.25]/0.25 [95% CI=0.24, 0.26]; P<.01). Children who used slippers at toddlers' age experienced a higher PP (flatter arch) in later childhood than those who wore sandals (mean difference=31.60 kPa [95% CI=1.44, 61.75]; post hoc P=.04). Information on the type of footwear worn was self-reported and, therefore, may be subjected to recall bias. The MLA of children remained stable from 7 to 9 years of age. The child's sex and the type of footwear worn during childhood may influence MLA development.

Injuries And Footwear (Part 2): Minimalist Running Shoes

This article defines minimalist running shoes and examines physiological, biomechanical, and injury rate differences when running in conventional versus minimalist running shoes. A minimalist shoe is one that provides "minimal interference with the natural movement of the foot, because of its high flexibility, low heel to toe drop, weight and stack height, and the absence of motion control and stability devices." Most studies indicate that running in minimalist shoes results in a lower physiological energy cost than running in conventional shoes, likely because of the lower weight of the minimalist shoe. Most individuals running in conventional shoes impact the ground heel first (rearfoot strike pattern), whereas most people running in minimalist shoes tend to strike with the front of the foot (forefoot strike pattern). The rate at which force is developed on ground impact (i.e., the loading rate) is generally higher when running in conventional versus minimalist shoes. Findings from studies that have looked at associations between injuries and foot strike patterns or injuries and loading rates are conflicting, so it is not clear if these factors influence injury rates; more research is needed. Better-designed prospective studies indicate that bone stress injuries and the overall injury incidence are higher in minimalist shoes during the early weeks (10-12 weeks) of transition to this type of footwear. Longer-term studies are needed to define injury rates once runners are fully transitioned to minimalist shoes. At least one longer-term minimalist-shoe investigation is ongoing and, hopefully, will be published soon.

Simplified versus geometrically accurate models of forefoot anatomy to predict plantar pressures: A finite element study

Integration of patient-specific biomechanical measurements into the design of therapeutic footwear has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in patients with diabetic foot disease. The addition of numerical simulations intended to optimise intervention design may help to build on these advances, however at present the time and labour required to generate and run personalised models of foot anatomy restrict their routine clinical utility. In this study we developed second-generation personalised simple finite element (FE) models of the forefoot with varying geometric fidelities. Plantar pressure predictions from barefoot, shod, and shod with insole simulations using simplified models were compared to those obtained from CT-based FE models incorporating more detailed representations of bone and tissue geometry. A simplified model including representations of metatarsals based on simple geometric shapes, embedded within a contoured soft tissue block with outer geometry acquired from a 3D surface scan was found to provide pressure predictions closest to the more complex model, with mean differences of 13.3kPa (SD 13.4), 12.52kPa (SD 11.9) and 9.6kPa (SD 9.3) for barefoot, shod, and insole conditions respectively. The simplified model design could be produced in <1h compared to >3h in the case of the more detailed model, and solved on average 24% faster. FE models of the forefoot based on simplified geometric representations of the metatarsal bones and soft tissue surface geometry from 3D surface scans may potentially provide a simulation approach with improved clinical utility, however further validity testing around a range of therapeutic footwear types is required.

The effects of two different types of footwear on salivary α-amylase and IgA levels following 30-min stair ascent and descent in men

The effects of two different types of footwear on salivary α-amylase and IgA levels following 30-min stair ascent and descent in men

Impacts of gender, weather, and workplace differences in farm worker's gear.

BackgroundThe farmers cannot help working in outdoor conditions which have high humidity and solar radiation during the harvest period. Wearable items including clothing are the nearest environment of human body, and to understand the current state of them can be a way to set up an active prevention strategy against the health risk from heat stress in summertime agriculture. The aim of this study was to investigate the work wear and accessories which the elderly farmers used during agricultural working.MethodsOne hundred twenty farmers (49 males and 71 females) working in nine separate sites on different days took part in this study. The average age of subjects was 61 years old. We examined the types of working posture, clothing, and items that the farmers used and/or wore. We also interviewed the farmers to know why they used such items while working.ResultsThe results of this study were as follows: (1) Farmers worked in the thermal environment which was over wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) reference value, and the farmers could suffer heat stress due to workload induced from wearing conventional long-sleeved shirts and long trousers which were 0.66 clo in average under this summertime working thermal condition. (2) The farmers tended to change the layer of upper clothing for adapting to weather condition. (3) The types of footwear used seemed to be related with facilities as well as weather, and farmers tended to wear lighter footwear when the weather is hotter or when they work in PVC greenhouse. The majority of elderly farmers wore loafers and rubber shoes which had indistinguishable thin soles. (4) The types of hats showed the difference between facilities as well as gender and only 31.7 % of all participants used long brims. (5) Korean elderly farmers did not use any active cooling item as agricultural auxiliary tools in summer harvesting time.ConclusionsKorean elderly farmers worked in poor surroundings which could threaten their health and safety and seemed not to adjust their workload and clothing during summer harvest season. Thus, it would be necessary to monitor individual responses in order to ensure that the risk of heat stress is prevented.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40101-015-0074-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Using the Inverse Maximum Ratio-Λ as a Technique to Quantify Surface Uniformity

Techniques used in variability assessment are subsequently used to draw conclusions regarding the “spread”/uniformity of data curves. Due to the limitations of these techniques, they are not adequate for circumstances where data manifest with multiple peaks. Examples of these manifestations (in three-dimensional space) include under-foot pressure distributions recorded for different types of footwear (Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo et al., 2014; Cibulka et al., 1994; Davies et al., 2003), surface textures and interfaces designed to impact friction, and and and molecular surface structures such as viral epitopes (Torras and Garcia-Valls, 2004; Pacejka, 1997; Fustaffson, 1997). This article proposes a technique for generating a single variable – Λ that will quantify the uniformity of such surfaces. We define and validate this technique using several mathematical and graphical models.

Point prevalence of suboptimal footwear features among ambulant older hospital patients: implications for fall prevention.

Objective The aim of the present study was to establish the point prevalence of 'suboptimal' features in footwear reported to have been used by older hospital patients when ambulating, and to explore underpinning factors for their choice of footwear. Method A cross-sectional investigation was undertaken on 95 of 149 eligible in-patients across 22 high fall-risk wards in a large metropolitan hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Results Over 70% of participants experienced an unplanned admission. Although most participants had access to some form of footwear in hospital (92%), nearly all reported ambulating in footwear with 'suboptimal' features (99%). Examples included slippers (27%), backless slippers (16%) or bare feet (27%). For patients who ambulated in bare feet, only one-third reported 'lack of access to footwear' as the primary cause, with others citing foot wounds, pain, oedema and personal choice as the main reason for bare foot ambulation. Conclusions Admitted patients frequently use footwear with 'suboptimal' features for ambulation in hospital. While some footwear options (for example well-fitting slippers) could be suited for limited in-hospital ambulation, others are clearly hazardous and might cause falls. Since footwear choices are influenced by multiple factors in this population, footwear education strategies alone may be insufficient to address the problem of hazardous footwear in at-risk patients. Footwear requirements may be more effectively addressed within a multidisciplinary team approach encompassing foot health, mobility and safety. What is known about the topic? Accidental falls while ambulating are an important health and safety concern for older people. Because certain footwear characteristics have been negatively linked to posture and balance, and specific footwear types linked to falls among seniors, the use of footwear with fewer suboptimal characteristics is generally recommended as a means of reducing the risk of falling. While footwear usage and choices have been explored in older people in the community and in residential care settings, there is little comparable data on acutely unwell older hospital patients. What does this paper add? This paper provides prevalence data on the use of footwear with suboptimal characteristics among ambulant older hospital patients, and identifies concurrent factors that may be relevant to patient footwear choices. What are the implications for practitioners? Pain, foot pathology and a desire to retain independence are important concerns for hospitalised patients and are likely to influence their choice of footwear used to ambulate with. Pragmatic team-based approaches that remain sensitive to key patient concerns may be more successful in optimising patient footwear usage than footwear education strategies alone.

Influence of unstable footwear on lower leg muscle activity, volume change and subjective discomfort during prolonged standing

PurposeThe present study was an attempt to investigate the effect of unstable footwear on lower leg muscle activity, volume change and subjective discomfort during prolonged standing. MethodsTen healthy subjects were recruited to stand for 2 h in three footwear conditions: barefoot, flat-bottomed shoe and unstable shoe. During standing, lower leg discomfort and EMG activity of medial gastrocnemius (MG) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were continuously monitored. Changes in lower leg volume over standing time also were measured. ResultsLower leg discomfort rating reduced significantly while subjects standing on unstable shoe compared to the flat-bottomed shoe and barefoot condition. For lower leg volume, less changes also were observed with unstable shoe. The activity level and variation of right MG muscle was greater with unstable shoe compared to the other footwear conditions; however regarding the left MG muscle, significant difference was found between unstable shoe and flat-bottomed shoe only for activity level. Furthermore no significant differences were observed for the activity level and variation of TA muscles (right/left) among all footwear conditions. ConclusionsThe findings suggested that prolonged standing with unstable footwear produces changes in lower leg muscles activity and leads to less volume changes. Perceived discomfort also was lower for this type of footwear and this might mean that unstable footwear can be used as ergonomic solution for employees whose work requires prolonged standing.

The effect of toe marker placement error on joint kinematics and muscle forces using OpenSim gait simulation.

Marker placement can be a significant source of error in biomechanical studies of human movement. The toe marker placement error is amplified by footwear since the toe marker placement on the shoe only relies on an approximation of underlying anatomical landmarks. Three total knee replacement subjects were recruited and three self-speed gait trials per subject were collected. The height variation between toe and heel markers of four types of footwear was evaluated from the results of joint kinematics and muscle forces using OpenSim. The reference condition was considered as the same vertical height of toe and heel markers. The results showed that the residual variances for joint kinematics had an approximately linear relationship with toe marker placement error for lower limb joints. Ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion is most sensitive to toe marker placement error. The influence of toe marker placement error is generally larger for hip flexion/extension and rotation than hip abduction/adduction and knee flexion/extension. The muscle forces responded to the residual variance of joint kinematics to various degrees based on the muscle function for specific joint kinematics. This study demonstrates the importance of evaluating marker error for joint kinematics and muscle forces when explaining relative clinical gait analysis and treatment intervention.

The effect of orthotics on intersegmental foot kinematics and the EMG activity of select lower leg muscles

BackgroundPersons with exertional related leg pain are managed using orthoses. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of two orthoses in altering foot motion and muscle activity in symptomatic individuals. Methods52 subjects with lower extremity pain complaints of a non-traumatic, mechanical origin received one of two orthoses. Foot kinematics and EMG activity were recorded while treadmill walking in 3 footwear conditions. The peak EMG activity of the sandal and sandal orthotic trials (normalized to peak barefoot values) and foot motion during 4 subphases of stance were obtained. Using a multivariate multilevel model via linear mixed models, the effect of orthoses within these phases on motion and EMG was determined. ResultsAn effect of orthotic type was not present for any of the rearfoot or forefoot motions (p>.10). A significant effect of footwear and orthotic type on first ray motion (p<.05) during subphases 2 and 4 was seen. During subphase 4 an interaction effect between footwear condition and orthotic type on tibialis posterior EMG activity (p=.036) was present. ConclusionOrthoses are unable to control rear or midfoot motion but appear to control first ray motion and during late stance, affect tibialis posterior muscle activity.Public trials registry number: NCRT02143947.

Efficacy of a rubber outsole with a hybrid surface pattern for preventing slips on icy surfaces

Conventional winter-safety footwear devices, such as crampons, can be effective in preventing slips on icy surfaces but the protruding studs can lead to other problems such as trips. A new hybrid (rough and smooth) rubber outsole was designed to provide high slip resistance without use of protruding studs or asperities. In the present study, we examined the slip resistance of the hybrid rubber outsole on both dry (−10 °C) and wet (0 °C) icy surfaces, in comparison to three conventional strap-on winter anti-slip devices: 1) metal coils (“Yaktrax Walker”), 2) gritted (sandpaper-like) straps (“Rough Grip”), and 3) crampons (“Altagrips-Lite”). Drag tests were performed to measure static (SCOF) and dynamic (DCOF) coefficients of friction, and gait trials were conducted on both level and sloped ice surfaces (16 participants). The drag-test results showed relatively high SCOF (≧0.37) and DCOF (≧0.31) values for the hybrid rubber sole, at both temperatures. The other three footwear types exhibited lower DCOF values (0.06–0.20) when compared with the hybrid rubber sole at 0 °C (p < 0.01). Slips were more frequent when wearing the metal coils, in comparison to the other footwear types, when descending a slope at −10 °C (6% of trials vs 0%; p < 0.05). There were no other significant footwear-related differences in slip frequency, distance or velocity. These results indicate that the slip-resistance of the hybrid rubber sole on icy surfaces was comparable to conventional anti-slip footwear devices. Given the likely advantages of the hybrid rubber sole (less susceptibility to tripping, better slip resistance on non-icy surfaces), this type of sole should contribute to a decrease in fall accidents; however, further research is needed to confirm its effectiveness under a wider range of test conditions.

The Effect Of Commonly Used Alternative Footwear On Balance

Footwear is the critical link between the human body and environment by connecting the foot to the ground surface; and different types of footwear are shown to have varying effects on human balance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in balance prior and after a transient low intensity workload while donning three alternative footwear: crocs (CC), flip flops (FF), and vibram minimalist shoes (MIN). METHODS: Eighteen healthy male adults (age: 22.9±2.88 years; height: 179±6.0 cm; mass: 81.3±8.8 kg) participated in this study following a repeated measures design separated by a minimum of 72 hrs. Balance was assessed by the Eyes Open (EO) and Eyes Closed (EC) conditions of the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) on the Neurocom Equitest System using the equilibrium score (EQ score - higher EQ scores representing better balance) while donning alternative footwear assigned using counter-balanced measures, prior to and after a one mile walk at a self-selected pace. RESULTS: The (3×2) (Footwear × Time) repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences in the EO condition for main effect time (p = 0.02) and between footwear during EC condition (p = 0.003). Post-hoc pairwise comparisons using a Bonferroni correction revealed significantly lower EQ score for post-test balance compared to pre-test during EO and significantly greater EQ score for MIN compared to CC during EC. CONCLUSION: The one mile walk caused a decrement in static balance in EO, which may be attributed to the workload suggesting possible localized muscular fatigue. The results of the EC condition suggest MIN allows for greater static balance compared to CC, which may be attributed to the barefoot design feature of the minimalist shoes, suggesting a greater availability of somatosensory feedback, with no visual information.

Alternative Footwear’s Influence on Static Balance Following a One Mile Walk

Falls are the third leading cause of unintentional death in homes and communities in the United States, causing 27,800 fatalities in 2012. The ability to maintain proper postural control is an essential part of activities of daily living (ADLs). However, recent types of popular alternative footwear may be putting the body’s postural control system at a functional disadvantage, predisposing wearers to the risk of a fall. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of three popular forms of alternative footwear (thong style flip-flops (FF), clog style molded plastic shoes (CC), and minimalist toe-shoes (MIN)) on postural control. METHODS: Eighteen healthy male adults (age: 22.9±2.88 years; height: 179±6.0 cm; mass: 81.3±8.8 kg) with no history of neuro-musculoskeletal disorders participated in this study. Static balance measures were recorded using eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions. The average sway velocity (VEL) and the root-mean-square (RMS) of the center of pressure (CoP) was used to quantify the postural sway in the anterior-posterior (APVEL & APRMS) and the medio-lateral (MLVEL & MLRMS) directions. The testing sessions consisted of a counter-balanced allocation of footwear. Pre and Post balance measures were collected separated by a one mile walk at a self-selected pace determined earlier. RESULTS: Mean sway variables analyzed using a 3×2 (footwear × time) repeated measures ANOVA revealed main effect significance for footwear (p=0.002) with pairwise comparisons revealing MIN exhibiting greater balance performance compared to clog style molded plastic shoes and the flip-flops. DISCUSSION: The MIN displayed increased balance in the EC condition, this could be attributed to the barefoot design, suggesting that the smaller sole/midsole provides a closer proximity to the supporting surface and an increase in the somatosensory and cutaneous feedback from the plantar sole, particularly in the absence of visual feedback.

Effect of Minimalist Footwear on Running Efficiency: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Background:Although minimalist footwear is increasingly popular among runners, claims that minimalist footwear enhances running biomechanics and efficiency are controversial.Hypothesis:Minimalist and barefoot conditions improve running efficiency when compared with traditional running shoes.Study Design:Randomized crossover trial.Level of Evidence:Level 3.Methods:Fifteen experienced runners each completed three 90-second running trials on a treadmill, each trial performed in a different type of footwear: traditional running shoes with a heavily cushioned heel, minimalist running shoes with minimal heel cushioning, and barefoot (socked). High-speed photography was used to determine foot strike, ground contact time, knee angle, and stride cadence with each footwear type.Results:Runners had more rearfoot strikes in traditional shoes (87%) compared with minimalist shoes (67%) and socked (40%) (P = 0.03). Ground contact time was longest in traditional shoes (265.9 ± 10.9 ms) when compared with minimalist shoes (253.4 ± 11.2 ms) and socked (250.6 ± 16.2 ms) (P = 0.005). There was no difference between groups with respect to knee angle (P = 0.37) or stride cadence (P = 0.20). When comparing running socked to running with minimalist running shoes, there were no differences in measures of running efficiency.Conclusion:When compared with running in traditional, cushioned shoes, both barefoot (socked) running and minimalist running shoes produce greater running efficiency in some experienced runners, with a greater tendency toward a midfoot or forefoot strike and a shorter ground contact time. Minimalist shoes closely approximate socked running in the 4 measurements performed.Clinical Relevance:With regard to running efficiency and biomechanics, in some runners, barefoot (socked) and minimalist footwear are preferable to traditional running shoes.

Diabetic Foot and Footwear

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseases around the world, and mainly affects the foot among the human body parts. The main causes of the diabetic foot are neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease and foot deformities; it leads to foot ulceration. Generally, sensory loss, high plantar pressure, foot deformities, inappropriate footwear, blindness, and age are the causing risk factors for developing foot ulceration in diabetic patients. Foot ulceration will result in prolonged hospitalization, high medical expenses, and serious complications with lower extremity amputation. For a long time, appropriate footwear has been recommended by physicians for reducing plantar pressure to prevent foot ulceration, the risk of amputation, and re-ulceration. A review is provided in this article towards the existing literature on the causes and prevalence of the diabetic foot, foot ulceration, off-loading pressure, footwear modification for different types of diabetic foot deformities, and types of footwear and textile materials used in footwear insoles for healing purposes.