• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.41-50
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• 2020

The consequences of wearing high heels can be different according to the heel height, gait speed, shoe design, heel base area, and shoe size. This study aimed to focus on the knee extension and flexion range of motion (ROM) during gait, which were challenged by wearing five different shoe heel types and two different self-selected gait speeds (comfortable and fast) as experimental conditions. Measurement standards of knee extension and flexion ROM were individually calibrated at the time of heel strike, mid-stance, toe-off, and stance phase based on the 2-minute video recordings of each gait condition. Seven healthy young women (20.7 ± 0.8 years) participated and they were asked to walk on a treadmill wearing the five given shoes at a self-selected comfortable speed (average of 2.4 ± 0.3 km/h) and a fast speed (average of 5.1 ± 0.2 km/h) in a random order. All of the shoes were in size 23.5 cm. Three of the given shoes were 9.0 cm in height, the other two were flat shoes and sneakers. A motion capture software (Kinovea 0.8.27) was used to measure the kinematic data; changes in the knee angles during each gait. During fast speed gait, the knee extension angles at heel strike and mid-stance were significantly decreased in all of the 3 high heels (p<0.05). The results revealed that fast gait speed causes knee flexion angle to significantly increase at toe-off in all five types of shoes. However, there was a significant difference in both the knee flexion and extension angles when the gait in stiletto heels and flat shoes were compared in fast gait condition (p<0.05). This showed that walking fast in high heels leads to abnormal knee ROM and thus can cause damages to the knee joints. The findings in this preliminary study can be a basis for future studies on the kinematic changes in the lower extremity during gait and for the analysis of causes and preventive methods for musculoskeletal injuries related to wearing high heels.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2007

The purpose of study was to compare plantar pressure during walking wearing the curved rear balance and normal shoes. Twelve university students(height: $177.2{\pm}4.6cm$, weight: $68.4{\pm}5.8kg$, age: $26.2{\pm}1.6yrs.$) who have no known musculoskeletal disorders were recruited as the subjects. Plantar foot pressures were evaluated using the Tekscan's pressure measurement systems while subjects walked upright position wearing the curved rear balance and normal shoes in random order at a speed of 1.3 m/s. The contacting dimension, the mean plantar pressure, and the peak plantar pressure were determined for each trial. For each dependent variable, paired t-test was performed to test if significant difference existed between shoe conditions (p<.05). As a result, the curved rear balanced shoes showed as large as 38 up to 50 % of area at the rear side of feet than the normal shoes when measuring the contact area with upright position. In the distribution of average pressure, the curved rear balanced shoes displayed fairly low pressure compared to other normal shoes in general except for one area, which is M2, and especially, the measured pressures at the both rear (M1) and middle (M5) side of feet were low and statically significant. The contact area of the curved rear balanced shoes when walking was significantly larger at the rear (M1) and fore (M6, M7) side of feet. When considering pressure distribution at walking, low pressure was detected at the rear side of feet with the curved rear balanced shoes and at the fore side of feet for other normal shoes. The results showed that the contacting dimension of the curved rear balance shoes that acts between shoes and feet was higher than the corresponding value for the normal shoes in general; therefore it would reduce the pressure to the feet by allowing the each sole of the foot on the ground evenly.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.233-242
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in foot contact area and pressure when walking with a functional insole that emphasizes the Hallux point as compared to a general insole. Methods: In this study, an experiment was conducted to investigate changes in plantar pressure and contact area for a functional insole that emphasized the Hallux point as compared to a general insole. A lower extremity robot was used for walking reproduction. First, the gait sequence according to the two insoles was determined through a randomized controlled trial comparison. According to the sequence procedure, the insole was attached to the shoe and then worn on the right side of the lower extremity robot for gait reproduction at a normal gait speed of 20 steps per minute. After programming the robot to walk, the experiment was carried out. The result value was determined by averaging the pressure and area data of the fore and rear foot measures after walking at 20 steps per minute. Results: The functional insole that emphasized the hallux point significantly increased the forefoot and rearfoot contact area (p < 0.05) and significantly decreased the forefoot and rearfoot contact pressure (p < 0.05) compared to the general insole. Conclusion: A functional insole that emphasizes the hallux point does not collapse the medial longitudinal arch during gait, increasing foot stability and reducing fatigue. Thus, this functional insole needs to be widely used clinically.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2022

In this paper, a dual foot (DF)-PDR system is proposed for the fusion of integration (IA)-based PDR systems independently applied on both shoes. The horizontal positions of the two shoes estimated from each PDR system are fused based on a particle filter. The proposed method bounds the position error even if the walking time increases without an additional sensor. The distribution of particles is a non-Gaussian distribution to express the lateral error due to systematic drift. Assuming that the shoe position is the pedestrian position, the multi-modal position distribution can be fused into one using the Gaussian sum. The fused pedestrian position is used as a measurement of each particle filter so that the position error is corrected. As a result, experimental results show that position of pedestrians can be effectively estimated by using only the inertial sensors attached to both shoes.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of shoes with curved out-sole on the pressure, reaction force(sum of pressure) on foot and relations between the rolling speeds and pronation of foot. The foot pressure, reaction force and pressure center on the foot surface of shoe were measured with NOVEL padar system, and 3 type shoes were used to compare the position and speed of pressure center and the foot reaction force, which were s(target) shoe with soft cushions in middle part of out-sole and curved out-sole, m shoes with two type- soft, hard, hardness out-sole and curved out-sole and n shoes with flat out-sole. The subjects were 13 female university students, had weared the 3 type shoes for 6 weeks on two-weeks shifts for adaptation before experiment and put on 3-type shoes repeatedly and randomly and walked on treadmill with 3.5km/h and 80 steps/min. The data were captured with 30Hz and readjusted with 5kgf threshold reaction force. The results can be summarized as follow. 1. There were no difference in maximum reaction force on initial contact period and total foot impact, but statistical difference in maximum reaction force on takeoff period : s, m, n in ascending order. 2. There were some difference in rolling speeds for support periods. At initial contact, the rolling speed of s shoes was fastest but at periods between first and second maximum reaction force, that of m shoes fastest. 3. There was a negative relation between rolling speeds and the length of lever arm on initial reaction force related to pronation. It seems shoes with various curved shapes and hardness could make effects on the rolling features and the rolling speed also have some relationships with walking efficiency, absortion of impact and pronation.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.390-405
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• 2021

Gait analysis trackers have been developed to monitor daily gait patterns to improve users' running performance and reduce the risk of injuries. A variety of gait analysis trackers are available on the market(e.g., foot pods, insoles). Depending on the type of gait analysis tracker, users' discomfort or satisfaction as well as required properties may differ. Hence, the purpose of this study was to compare and analyze user experience of three different types of commercial shoe-mounted gait analysis trackers and their mobile applications in a laboratory environment using questionnaires based on actual experiences of each product. Ten males and ten females who regularly enjoy walking and running exercises participated in the experiment. After the participants set up the tracker and application themselves without support from researchers, ten to thirty minutes' exercise was permitted on each product. Following this, the participants answered questionnaires containing evaluation variables on the device and mobile application, as well as satisfaction, intention to use, recommendation, and purchase. In addition, they were asked questions about the attractive features and shortcomings of each device and application. The results showed that the PRO-SPECS^® smart insole was preferred over the others for ease of use, perceived durability, psychological burden of the design, and usefulness of the information provided by the application. Along with the results of questionnaire, this study also discussed strategies and recommendations for future product design and development.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.291-302
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• 2023

As the first part of the body that strikes the ground during running, sports shoes are especially important for improving performance and reducing injuries. The use of new nanotechnology materials in the shoe's sole that can affect the movement angle of the foot and the ground reaction forces during running has not been reported yet. It is important to consider the material of the sole of the shoe since it determines the long-term performance of sports shoes, including their comfort while walking, running, and jumping. Running performance can be improved by polymer foam that provides good support with low energy dissipation (low energy dissipation). Running shoes have a midsole made of ethylene propylene copolymer (EPP) foam. The mechanical properties of EPP foam are, however, low. To improve the mechanical performance of EPP, conventional mineral fillers are commonly used, but these fillers sacrifice energy return. In this study, to improve the magnificence of physical education training with nanotechnology, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) derived from recycled plastics were prepared by catalytic chemical vapor deposition and used as nucleating and reinforcing agents. As a result of the results, the physical, mechanical, and dynamic response properties of EPP foam combined with CNT and zinc oxide nanoparticles were significantly improved. When CNT was added to the nanocomposites with a weight percentage of less than 0.5 wt%, the wear resistance, physical properties, dynamic stiffness, compressive strength, and rebound properties of EPP foams were significantly improved.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.415-422
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• 2020

This study investigates the relationship between muscular strengths and gait characteristics of the elderly. Totally, 107 subjects, aged 65 to 85 years, participated in this study. Researchers measured muscle strengths (grip force, toe grip force, gluteus medius, and gluteus maximus forces) and walking characteristics (walking speed, cadence, step length, single leg support, and double legs support). Dynamometers and inertial measurement unit-based shoe systems were used for measuring muscular strength and gait characteristics, respectively. No significant difference was observed in strengths and walking characteristics between the young elders (YE, 65-74 years) and the old elders (OE, 75-85 years). For each age, muscular strength significantly correlated with some gait parameters. Forces of gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles showed better significant correlations between some gait parameters for all age groups, as compared to grip force and toe grip force. Regression coefficients between walking speed and grip force did not vary with age. We conclude that muscular strengths in OE better explained the gait characteristics than in YE subjects. Even though grip strength is an easily measured variable for senior fitness test, forces of gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles are more meaningful for understanding the walking characteristics of elderly people.

• 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.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.306-317
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• 2002

The Sample was consist of 216 female adults who were selected with my convenience from residing women in and around Seoul, Korea. The result were as fellowing; According to the factor analysis of their foot discomfort, it is divided into 3 factors: the discomfort of whole body (factor 1), the discomfort of foot sole (factor 2), and the discomfort of toes (factor 3). And the foot part of discomfort is more frequent in the order of the big toe, 2·3 metatarsal bones, and the little toe. As the age gets older, the discomfort of foot sole and toes are reported more frequently, and, particularly, more student and office employees have the discomfort of whole body while more sales women and housewives have the discomfort of foot sole. In terms of the shoe types, the higher the hill height, the more the discomfort of foot sole with wearing the sharp toe. As the wearing time is longer, the discomfort of foot sole increases. Being related to the from patterns, the broad and short type has more of the discomfort of foot sole, the flat foot feel more discomfort from the entire body and the sole. Walking with leaning toward the frontal the discomfort on toes and sole increases.