• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.2 s.161
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• pp.258-268
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• 2007

The purpose of this research is to develop functional midsole that can restrain the heightening of plantar pressure in forefoot pressure so as to develop high-heeled shoes that can lessen foot ailments among women. The pumps shoes used for the research were of the same pumps type last. The variant was heel height, 3cm, 6cm, and 9cm, and the shoes were made in both normal midsole and functional midsole. The variant was applied to investigate the changes of foot pressure on forefoot and hindfoot according to heel height.'Heel Cup' was chosen for modification of functional midsolepumps type. to enlarge contact area in hindfoot, and 'Heel Posting Pad' was attached under sustentaculum tali to suppress the weight moving to forefoot pressure. If such functional parts are developed and used, it is possible to lessen the amount of Pmax or Impulse imposed by high-heeled pumps type on forefoot pressure. This can greatly lessen foot ailments, largely caused by high-heeled shoes, among women.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.89-114
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to analyze impact absorption function of midsole in cushioned marathon shoes. The foot is made up of a complex interaction of bones, ligaments, and muscles. These structures help the foot alternate between being a mobile, flexible adaptor and a stable rigid lever. The foot is broken down into two functional parts, the forefoot and the rearfoot. Cushioned marathon shoes for high arches have generous cushioning for efficient and high-mileage runners. Cushioned marathon shoes are made for feet that have high arches or no excessive motion and don't roll inward or roll outward. This condition is known as underpronation. Especially, Cushioned marathon shoes are designed to reduce shock and generally have the softest (or most cushioned) midsoles and the least medial support. They are usually built on a semicurved or curved last to encourage foot motion, which is helpful for underpronators (who have rigid, immobile feet). Cushioning marathon shoes recommended for the high-arched runner, whose foot may roll outward (supinate) rather than the natural slight inward roll, or whose feet may be relatively rigid. Cushioning shoes emphasize flexibility and usually are built on a curved or semicurved last to encourage a normal motion of the foot. Cushioning shoes usually offer no medial (inner foot) support. Cushioned marathon shoes have the single-density midsole, which is stable and relatively firm for a cushioned shoe, stays the same. But the forefoot is more rounded, and the rearfoot now includes a new and supportive rearfoot cradle. A foam midsole, perhaps with layers of different densities, to provide cushioning and shock absorption. EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) and PU (polyurethane), the materials from which these foams usually are made. EVA is slightly softer than PU. EVA and PU may be layered together in a shoe, or a shoe may have more than one density of EVA.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.153-168
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• 2005

The purposes of this study were to determine the influence of midsole hardness and sole thickness of sports shoes on ball flex angle and position with increment of running velocity. The subjects employed for this study were 10 college students who did not have lower extremity injuries for the last one year and whose running pattern was rearfoot striker of normal foot. The shoes used in this study had 3 different midsole hardness of shore A 40, shore A 50, shore A 60 and 3 different sole thickness of 17cm, 19cm, 21cm. The subjects were asked to run at 3 different speed of 2.0m/sec, 3.5m/sec, 5.0m/sec and their motions were videotaped with 4 S-VHS video cameras and 2 high speed video cameras and simultaneously measured with a force platform. The following results were obtained after analysing and comparing the variables. Minimum angle of each ball flex position were increased with the increment of running velocity and shoe sole thickness(P<0.05), but mid-sole hardness did not affect minimum ball flex angle. The position which minimum angle was shown as smallest was 'D'. Midsole hardness and sole thickness did not affect time to each ball flex minimum angle, total angular displacement of ball flex angle, and total angular displacement of torsion angle(P<0.05). The position which minimum angle was appeared to be earliest was similar at walking velocity, and E and F of midfoot region at running velocity. Total angular displacement of ball flex position tended to increase as shifted to heel. It was found that running velocity had effects on ball flex angle variables, but shoe sole thickness partially affected. It would be considered that running velocity made differences between analysis variables at walking and running when designing shoes. Also, it was regarded that shoes would be developed at separated region, because ball flex angle and position was shown to be different at toe and heel region. It is necessary that midsole hardness and thickness required to functional shoes be analyzed in the further study.