• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2024

Purpose: Foot pressure measurement devices are used widely in clinical settings for plantar pressure assessments. Despite the availability of various devices, studies evaluating the inter-device reliability are limited. This study compared plantar pressure measurements obtained from HR Mat (Tekscan Inc.) and EMED-n50 (Novel GmbH). Materials and Methods: The study involved 38 healthy male volunteers. The participants were categorized into two groups based on the Meary's angle in standing foot lateral radiographs: those with normal feet (angles ranging from -4° to 4°) and those with mild flatfeet (angles from -8° to -15°). The static and dynamic plantar pressures of the participants were measured using HR Mat and EMED-n50. The reliability of the contact area and mean force was assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Furthermore, the differences in measurements between the two devices were examined, considering the presence of mild flatfoot. Results: The ICC values for the contact area and mean force ranged from 0.703 to 0.947, indicating good-to-excellent reliability across all areas. EMED-n50 tended to record higher contact areas than HR Mat. The mean force was significantly higher in the forefoot region when measured with EMED-n50, whereas, in the hindfoot region, this difference was observed only during static measurements with HR Mat. Participants with mild flatfeet exhibited significantly higher contact areas in the midfoot region for both devices, with no consistent differences in the other parameters. Conclusion: The contact area and mean force measurements of the HR Mat and EMED-n50 showed high reliability. On the other hand, EMED-n50 tended to record higher contact areas than HR Mat. In cases of mild flatfoot, an increase in contact area within the midfoot region was observed, but no consistent impact on the differences between the two devices was evident.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.297-309
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• 2009

The study analyzed the mechanism of plantar foot pressure distribution during pitching wedge swinging on a flat, an up hill lie and a down hill lie to provide the fundamental information regarding biomechanical motion data by using plantar foot pressure measuring instrument. In the results, time factor spanning according to slope differences, plantar foot pressure factor and swing motion on the slope could have negative effect on the coiling of lower limbs during back swing, as well as the blocking of the lower limbs to minimize the dispersion of the weight and the release of the lower limbs after the impact during the down swing process. Moreover, since slope is one of many external factors affecting swing motion, address motion on an up hill lie limits the lower limbs movement, therefore, a relatively narrow stance is better on a down hill lie. It is estimated that a relatively wide stance would be better in order to limit the bigger activation of the lower limbs. Not only for the address motion but also during the down swing on an up hill lie it is concluded that the weight should be on the left foot in order to keep the body balance.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changing plantar foot pressure and muscle activation of neck, lumbar and low limb by different way of the using carrier during walking. Twenty healthy and young females who brought up infants and had no musculoskeletal disorders of neck, lumbar and low limb were instructed to perform plantar foot pressure and muscle activation of neck, lumbar and low limb during different ways of the using the carrier and walking. Plantar foot pressures were recorded by RS-scan system(RS scan Ltd, German), muscle activation were recorded by ProComp infinitiTM(Thought Technology Ltd, Canada). The data collected by each way of the using carrier and One-way ANOVA was used to analyze. The results indicated that there was a significant increase on erector spinae muscle activation and pressure of great toe zone by using anterior carrier and there was a increase on activation of paraspinal muscle and metatarsal zone by using posterior carrier. Therefore, the way of using carrier could be influenced upon structure and function of the foot and muscle activation.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of joint mobilization on foot pressure, ankle moment, and vertical ground reaction force in subjects with ankle instability. Method: Twenty male subjects (age, $25.38{\pm}3.62yr$; height, $170.92{\pm}5.41cm$; weight, $60.74{\pm}9.63kg$; body mass index (BMI), $19.20{\pm}1.67kg/m^2$) participated and underwent ankle joint mobilization. Weight-bearing distribution, ankle dorsi/plantar flexion moment, and vertical ground reaction force were measured using a GPS 400 and a VICON Motion System (Oxford, UK), and subsequently analyzed. SPSS 20.0 for Windows was used for data processing and paired t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-mobilization measurements. The significance level was set at ${\alpha}$ = .05. Results: The results indicated changes in weight-bearing, ankle dorsi/plantar flexion moment, and vertical ground reaction force. The findings showed changes in weight-bearing distribution on the left (pre $29.51{\pm}6.31kg$, post $29.57{\pm}5.02kg$) and right foot (pre $32.40{\pm}6.30kg$, post $31.18{\pm}5.47kg$). There were significant differences in dorsi/plantar flexion moment (p < .01), and there were significant increases in vertical ground reaction forces at initial stance (Fz1) and terminal stance (Fz2, p < .05). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in vertical ground reaction force at midstance (Fz2, p < .001). Conclusion: Joint mobilization appears to alter weight-bearing distribution in subjects with ankle instability, with resultant improvements in stability.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.439-448
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• 2018

With the aim of examining changes in plantar pressure while walking depending on the position of carrying a bag, this study measured the plantar pressure of 33 normal male and female adults using the F-scan System in four different positions to carry a bag: walking without carrying a bag; walking with carrying a bag on both shoulders; walking with carrying a bag on one shoulder; and walking with carrying a bag in one hand. Changes in the plantar pressure of the subjects obtained in this study and the asymmetry of the left and right feet were analyzed. The plantar pressure of the different areas of the feet in the four different positions to carry a bag was compared. The left foot, except its toes and metatarsus, showed a statistically significant difference among the five conditions, and the right foot, except its 4th and 5th caput metatarsalis, also showed a statistically significant difference (P>.05). Given the results of this study, this experiment to examine changes in plantar pressure does not seem to be enough to identify which position to carry a bag, except carrying a bag on both shoulders, would have the lowest negative impact on the feet. It will be necessary to conduct a follow-up study on changes in plantar pressure depending on the position of carrying a bag and methods that can effectively treat abnormal positions such as scoliosis and kyphosis using asymmetric loads.

• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.897-904
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• 2015

Objective To investigate differences in plantar pressure distribution between a normal gait and unpredictable slip events to predict the initiation of the slipping process. Methods Eleven male participants were enrolled. Subjects walked onto a wooden tile, and two layers of oily vinyl sheet were placed on the expected spot of the 4th step to induce a slip. An insole pressure-measuring system was used to monitor plantar pressure distribution. This system measured plantar pressure in four regions (the toes, metatarsal head, arch, and heel) for three events: the step during normal gait; the recovered step, when the subject recovered from a slip; and the uncorrected, harmful slipped step. Four variables were analyzed: peak pressure (PP), contact time (CT), the pressure-time integral (PTI), and the instant of peak pressure (IPP). Results The plantar pressure pattern in the heel was unique, as compared with other parts of the sole. In the heel, PP, CT, and PTI values were high in slipped and recovered steps compared with normal steps. The IPP differed markedly among the three steps. The IPPs in the heel for the three events were, in descending order (from latest to earliest), slipped, recovered, and normal steps, whereas in the other regions the order was normal, recovered, and slipped steps. Finally, the metatarsal head-to-heel IPP ratios for the normal, recovered, and slipped steps were $6.1{\pm}2.9$, $3.1{\pm}3.0$, and $2.2{\pm}2.5$, respectively. Conclusion A distinctive plantar pressure pattern in the heel might be useful for early detection of a slip event to prevent slip-related injuries.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.8 s.173
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• pp.174-181
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• 2005

We analyzed the pressure, impulse on 24 sensors location under the foot using the Parolee system. Total 7 kinds of shoes, i.e. sport shoe, high heel shoes (5cm heel, 8cm heel, 13cm heel), platform shoe, inline skate, and heelys were evaluated for 20 normal subjects. Compared with those of sport shoe, greater pressure and impulse were shown on the 1 st phalange and the 1 st metatarsal head and greater impulse on the medial tarsal bone in high-heel shoes. Greater pressure and impulse were shown on medial metatarsal bone and the lateral tarsal bone in platform shoe. Greater impulse was shown on the medial tarsal bone in inline-skate. Heelys shoe showed smaller impulse on the central area of foot. The result of this study is expected to provide useful information about the relationship between the shoe type and the foot pathologies.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.110-113
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• 2000

The reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the sole requires to stand the force of weight bearing, provide sensation and adequacy for normal foot-wear. Although certain local flaps have been described and used for resurfacing the foot, extensive injury requires distant or free flaps for coverage. There is no doubt that the ideal tissue for resurfacing the sole is the plantar tissue itself. The specialized dermal-epidermal histology and fibrous septa of the subcutaneous layer gives its unique property to stand the pressure and to absorb the shock upon gait. This paper presents a case of reconstructing the sole that involves about 70% of the weight bearing portion. The combined medial plantar and dorsalis pedis chimeric free flap based on the medial plantar artery and medial plantar nerve adds another dimension in resurfacing the weight bearing sole of moderate to large sized defects.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.162-167
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• 2021

Purpose: A hyperextended knee is described as knee pain associated with an impaired knee extensor mechanism. Additionally, a hyperextended knee may involve reduced position sense of the knee joint that decreases the individual's ability to control end-range knee extension movement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of visual biofeedback information for plantar pressure distribution on knee joint angle and lower extremity muscle activities in participants with hyperextended knees. Methods: Twenty-three participants with hyperextended knees were recruited for the study. Surface electromyography signals were recorded for the biceps femoris, rectus femoris, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscle activities. The plantar pressure distribution was displayed and measured using a pressure distribution measuring plate. Knee joint angle kinematic parameters were recorded using a motion analysis system. The visual biofeedback condition was the point at which the difference between the forefoot and backfoot plantar foot pressure on the monitor was minimized. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine the significance between the visual biofeedback condition and the preferred condition. Results: The knee joint angle was significantly decreased in the visual biofeedback condition compared to that in the preferred condition (p<0.05). The rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscle activities were significantly different between the visual biofeedback and preferred conditions (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that visual biofeedback of information about plantar pressure distribution is effective for correcting hyperextended knees.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2024

Purpose: Ankle instability is a common issue in both daily activities and sports, often leading to recurrent injuries. Elastic taping is a non-pharmacological intervention used to improve ankle stability. This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of elastic taping on ankle stability, center of pressure (COP) movement, and foot pressure distribution. Methods: A single-group pre-posttest design was employed, with 30 participants included in the study. Plantar pressure and COP parameters were measured before and after the application of elastic taping. Taping was administered in three distinct patterns to enhance ankle stability. Results: Immediate effects of elastic taping were evident in COP parameters. Following taping application, there was a significant decrease in COP total displacement, COP area, and COP velocity. However, no significant changes were observed in plantar pressure parameters. Conclusion: The application of elastic taping in this study demonstrated immediate effects on ankle stability and COP parameters, indicating its potential as a viable intervention for improving balance. Further research with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up is needed to elucidate the sustained effects of elastic taping on ankle stability.