• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of two shoe size conditions on foot pressure, ground reaction force (GRF), and lower extremity muscle fatigue. Seven healthy men participated. They randomly performed walking and running in two different conditions: proper shoe size and 10 mm greater than proper shoe size. Peak foot pressure, and vertical, anterior and mediolateral force components were recorded with the Parotec system and Kisler force platform. To assess fatigue, the participants performed treadmill running for twenty-five minutes twice, each time wearing a different shoe size. Surface electromyography was used to confirm localized muscle fatigue using power spectral analysis of four muscles (tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris). The results were as follows: 1) In walking conditions, there was a significantly higher peak pressure in the 10 mm greater than proper shoe size insole sensor 1, 2, 14, and 18 (p<.05). 2) In running conditions, there was a significantly higher peak pressure in the 10 mm greater than proper shoe size insole sensor 5, 14, and 15 (p<.05). 3) In walking conditions, there was a significantly higher first maximal vertical GRF in the 10 mm greater than proper shoe size (p<.05). 4) In running conditions, no GRF components were significantly different between each shoe size condition (p>.05). 5) Muscle fatigue indexes of the tibialis anterior and rectus femoris were significantly increased in the 10 mm greater than proper shoe size condition. These results indicate that wearing shoes that are too large could further exacerbate the problems of increased foot pressure, vertical GRF, and muscle fatigue.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2010

During running, the human body experiences repeated impact force between the foot and the ground. The impact force is highly associated with injury of the lower extremity, comfort and running performance. Therefore, shoemakers have developed shoes with various midsole properties to prevent the injury of lower extremity, improve the comfort and enhance the running performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate influence of midsole hardness on shock absorption along the human body during running. Thirty two expert runners consented to participate in the study and ran at a constant speed with three different pairs of shoes with soft, medium and hard midsole respectively. Using accelerometers we measured the shock absorption from shoe heel to cervical vertebral column. In conclusion, at the shoe heel, shock was the greatest with the hard midsole. However because most shock was absorbed between shoe heel and the knee, notable influence of midsole was not detected upper knee. At shoe heel, regardless of midsole hardness, the shock of younger female was the greatest. The authors expect to apply this result for providing a guideline for utilizing proper midsole hardness for manufacturing age and gender-specific shoe.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2020

Objective: Shoes midsole are crucial for reducing impact forces on the lower extremity when someone is running. Previous studies report that the cushioning of running shoes make it possible to use less muscular energies. However, the well cushioned shoes result in energy loss as the shoe midsole is compressed. Cushioning reduces the load on the body, it also results in the use of more muscle energy to create propulsion force. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the difference of shoe hardness & resilience on the running. Method: Shoes midsole are crucial for reducing impact forces on the lower extremity when someone is running. Previous studies report that the cushioning of running shoes make it possible to use less muscular energies. However, the well cushioned shoes result in energy loss as the shoe midsole is compressed. Cushioning reduces the load on the body, it also results in the use of more muscle energy to create propulsion force. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the difference of shoe hardness & resilience on the running. Results: In vastus lateralis muscle Activation, Type 55 were significantly higher for Type 50 and X (p=0.019, p=0.045). In Gluteus Maximus muscle activation, Type 55 was significantly lower for type 50 (p=0.005). In loading late, Type 55 and X were significantly higher for type 45 (p=0.008, p=0.006). Conclusion: The components of a shoe are very complex, and there can be many differences in manufacturing as well. Although some differences can be found in the biomechanical variables of the high elastic midsole, it is difficult to interpret the performance enhancement and injury prevention.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of both various shoe types and bare feet on ground reaction force while walking. Ten first-year female university students were selected. A force platform(Kistler, Germany) was used to measure ground reaction force. Six types of shoe were tested: flip flops, canvas shoes, running shoes, elevated forefoot walking shoes, elevated midfoot walking shoes, and five-toed shoes. The control group was barefooted. Only vertical passive/active ground reaction force variables were analyzed. The statistical analysis was carried out using the SAS 9.1.2 package, specifically ANOVA, and Tukey for the post hoc. The five-toed shoe had the highest maximum passive force value; while the running shoe had the lowest. The first active loading rate for running shoes was the highest; meanwhile, bare feet, the five-toed shoe, and the elevated fore foot walking shoe was the lowest. Although barefoot movement or movement in five toed shoes increases impact, it also allows for full movement of the foot. This in turn allows the foot arch to work properly, fully flexing along three arches(transverse, lateral, medial), facilitating braking force and initiating forward movement as the tendons, ligaments, and muscles of the arch flex back into shape. In contrast movement in padded shoes have a tendency to pound their feet into the ground. This pounding action can result in greater foot instability, which would account for the higher loading rates for the first active peak for padded shoes.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2001

Rearfoot control can be defined as the relative ability of a shoe to limit the amount of subtalar joint pronation immediately following footstrike. A normal amount of pronation provides a means of decreasing peak forces experienced by the leg, but excessive pronation of the foot can be arised its injures. The purpose of this study is to compare amount of pronation according to a difference between medial and later hardness of shoe midsole for better design of running shops. The experiment is examined for 7 running shoes. 8 males. to measure the Achilles tendon angle and rearfoot angle using high speed camera. The results is conducted that the changes of Achilles tendon angle significantly differ at each test shoe with increased running speed. And, a difference between medial and lateral hardness of midsole affects rearfoot motion of runner. The displacements of maximal Achilles tendon angle described a amount of pronation motion is decreased when medial hardness of midsole is large more than lateral.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.221-230
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze biomechanical factors of trail running shoes applied to korean shoe-lasts. 10 healthy male subjects with an average age of 37.2 years(SD=8.28), weight of 69.6 kg(SD=10.56) and a height of 171 cm(SD=4.93) were recruited for this study. Ten males walked on a treadmill wearing four different shoes. Foot pressure data was collected using a Pedar-X mobile system(Novel Gmbh., Germany) operating at the 1000 Hz. Surface EMG signals for tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis and biceps femoris were acquired at 1000 Hz using Noraxon TeleMyo DTS system(Noraxon Inc., USA). Foot pressure and leg muscle fatigue were measured and calculated during walking. The results are as follows: After walking 60 minutes, Type A showed a lower MPF. MPF values were significantly different from each muscle(p<.05). Therefore, Type A shoe might decrease muscle fatigue in the legs while walking. In addition, Type It showed that Type A shoe has the highest contact area and the lowest maximum pressure. As a result of the analysis, Trail running shoes will use a new design to reduce muscle fatigue and are expected to increase comfort and fitting.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.105-119
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• 2004

To enhance our understanding of the loads on the foot during treadmill running, we have used a pressure-sensitive insole system to determine pressure, rate of loading and impulse distributions on the plantar surface during treadmill running, both in minimally cushioned footwear and in cushioned shoes. This report includes pressure, rate of loading, impulse and contact time data from a study of ten subjects running on a treadmill at 4.0m/s. Among heel-toe runners, the highest peak pressures and highest rates of loading were observed under the centre of the heel and in the medial forefoot. The arch regions were only lightly loaded. Contact time was greater in the forefoot than in the heel. Two-thirds of the impulse recorded during the step was the result of forces applied through the forefoot, mostly in the region of the metatarsal heads. The distribution of loads in the shoe suggests that the load distributing properties of the cushioning system are most important in the centre of the heel, under the metatarsal heads and great toe. Shock attenuation is primarily required under the centre of the heel and to lesser extent under the metatarsal heads. Some energy dissipation may be desirable in the heel region because it causes shock to be absorbed with less force. All the 'propulsive' effort is applied through the forefoot. Therefore, this region should as resilient as possible.

• Transactions of The Korea Fluid Power Systems Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.14-20
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• 2005

This study developed and evaluated a shoe cushioning system to reduce impact force patterns during running. The shoe cushioning system is composed with a poly urethane pocket, which contains water and porous grains to absorb the force against the weight inside the pocket. Load-displacement curves for the shoe cushioning system were obtained from an instrumented testing machine and the results were compared with various pockets that have air, water or grains. Mechanical testings showed that the pocket with 5 g particles was the best for the shoe cushioning system. This founding will be helpful to designing the shoe.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of midsole hardness of running shoe on muscle fatigue and impact force during distance running. Method: Ten healthy college recreational runners who were performing distance running at least three times a week participated in this experiment. They were asked to run for 15 minutes in the treadmill at 10 km/h with running shoes having three different types of midsole hardness (Soft, Medium, Hard). EMG signal and insole pressure were collected during the first and last one minute for each running trials. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. Results: Midsole hardness did not affect the consistency of stride length. For the median frequency of the EMG signal, only VL was affected by midsole hardness; that of medium was greater than other midsoles (p<.05). The loading rate of impact forces increased by midsole hardness (p<.01). Conclusion: Although soft midsole could attenuate impact forces at heel contact, it might have a negative effect on the fatigue of muscle which could decelerate the body after heel contact. Therefore, it is necessary to select the optimum hardness of midsole carefully for both reduction impact forces and muscle fatigue.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.95-103
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• 2006

Wheel treads of E.M.U. are usually under a heavy thermal load by brake frictional heat between wheel and brake shoe and damaged by repeated thermal and mechanical loads. To examine the cause of wheel tread damage of E.M.U.'s in service running, a systematic approach has been used. This study is composed of three parts. Frictional heat analysis was conducted in the first part by finite element method. Two kinds of brake shoes in service were considered. In the second part, experimental study was carried out on a brake dynamometer. Temperatures were measured for the two brake shoes. And experimental study in service running E.M.U.'s was performed. Wheel and brake shoe temperatures were measured by using thermocouples and temperature indicating strips. Finally metallurgical characteristics were examined by a SEM/EDS and the cause of the wheel damage was analyzed. It seems that aggregated ferrous component is a main cause of the wheel tread damage.