Changes in Gait Characteristics due to Outsole Structure of Shoe

2015 ◽  
Vol 775 ◽  
pp. 28-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Seung Choi ◽  
Dong Won Kang ◽  
Jeong Woo Seo ◽  
Ju Young Kim ◽  
Seung Tae Yang ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in kinematic and kinetic gait characteristics due to outsole structure of the shoe. In this experiment, cushioning shoe having cushion for heel (BOSS Corps., Korea) which is designed as a lever, MBT having an unstable rounded shoe (Masai Barefoot Technology, MBT, Swiss) and normal running shoe (Adidas, Germany) were compared. The experiment was performed walking on the straight walkway (10m x 3m) five times with preferred walking speed. 3D motion capture system was used to acquire kinematic and kinetic data using six infrared cameras and two force plates. For comparison among shoes, walking velocity, hip, knee and ankle joint angles (range of motion, trajectory), ground reaction force (loading rate, the decay rate, maximal vertical ground reaction force), and center of mass - center of pressure inclination angle (COM-COP angle) were used. The results showed that there were different effects of types of shoe on lower extremities. Joint angle trajectory of ankle, joint range of motion (ROM) of the hip, and peak force were significantly different among shoe types. MBT provided a decreased impact force. Cushioning shoe provided increased progressive force, decreased loading rate, and decreased COM-COP angle. For further study, it is necessary to analyze additional subjects (i.e., elderly) and long-term effects.

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Hobara ◽  
Koh Inoue ◽  
Kazuyuki Kanosue

Understanding the degree of leg stiffness during human movement would provide important information that may be used for injury prevention. In the current study, we investigated bilateral differences in leg stiffness during one-legged hopping. Ten male participants performed one-legged hopping in place, matching metronome beats at 1.5, 2.2, and 3.0 Hz. Based on a spring-mass model, we calculated leg stiffness, which is defined as the ratio of maximal ground reaction force to maximum center of mass displacement at the middle of the stance phase, measured from vertical ground reaction force. In all hopping frequency settings, there was no significant difference in leg stiffness between legs. Although not statistically significant, asymmetry was the greatest at 1.5 Hz, followed by 2.2 and 3.0 Hz for all dependent variables. Furthermore, the number of subjects with an asymmetry greater than the 10% criterion was larger at 1.5 Hz than those at 2.2 and 3.0 Hz. These results will assist in the formulation of treatment-specific training regimes and rehabilitation programs for lower extremity injuries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 541-546
Author(s):  
Caroline Lisee ◽  
Tom Birchmeier ◽  
Arthur Yan ◽  
Brent Geers ◽  
Kaitlin O’Hagan ◽  
...  

Context: Landing kinetic outcomes are associated with injury risk and may be persistently altered after anterior cruciate ligament injury or reconstruction. However, it is challenging to assess kinetics clinically. The relationship between sound characteristics and kinetics during a limited number of functional tasks has been supported as a potential clinical alternative. Objective: To assess the relationship between kinetics and sound characteristics during a single-leg landing task. Design: Observational Setting: Laboratory. Participants: There was total of 26 healthy participants (15 males/11 females, age = 24.8 [3.6] y, height = 176.0 [9.1] cm, mass = 74.9 [14.4] kg, Tegner Activity Scale = 6.1 [1.1]). Intervention: Participants completed single-leg landings onto a force plate while audio characteristics were recorded. Main Outcome Measures: Peak vertical ground reaction force, linear loading rate, instantaneous loading rate, peak sound magnitude, sound frequency were measured. Means and SDs were calculated for each participant’s individual limbs. Spearman rho correlations were used to assess the relationships between audio characteristics and kinetic outcomes. Results: Peak sound magnitude was positively correlated with normalized peak vertical ground reaction force (ρ = .486, P = .001); linear loading rate (ρ = .491, P = .001); and instantaneous loading rate (ρ = .298, P = .03). Sound frequency was negatively correlated with instantaneous loading rate (ρ = −.444, P = .001). Conclusions: Peak sound magnitude may be more helpful in providing feedback about an individual’s normalized vertical ground reaction force and linear loading rate, and sound frequency may be more helpful in providing feedback about instantaneous loading rate. Further refinement in sound measurement techniques may be required before these findings can be applied in a clinical population.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 968-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. Hannigan ◽  
Christine D. Pollard

Background: A recent study suggested that maximal running shoes may increase the impact force and loading rate of the vertical ground-reaction force during running. It is currently unknown whether runners will adapt to decrease the impact force and loading rate over time. Purpose: To compare the vertical ground-reaction force and ankle kinematics between maximal and traditional shoes before and after a 6-week acclimation period to the maximal shoe. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Participants ran in a traditional running shoe and a maximal running shoe during 2 testing sessions 6 weeks apart. During each session, 3-dimensional kinematics and kinetics were collected during overground running. Variables of interest included the loading rate, impact peak, and active peak of the vertical ground-reaction force, as well as eversion and dorsiflexion kinematics. Two-way repeated measures analyses of variance compared data within participants. Results: No significant differences were observed in any biomechanical variable between time points. The loading rate and impact peak were higher in the maximal shoe. Runners were still everted at toe-off and landed with less dorsiflexion, on average, in the maximal shoe. Conclusion: Greater loading rates and impact forces were previously found in maximal running shoes, which may indicate an increased risk of injury. The eversion mechanics observed in the maximal shoes may also increase the risk of injury. A 6-week transition to maximal shoes did not significantly change any of these measures. Clinical Relevance: Maximal running shoes are becoming very popular and may be considered a treatment option for some injuries. The biomechanical results of this study do not support the use of maximal running shoes. However, the effect of these shoes on pain and injury rates is unknown.


The Knee ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 398-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronaldo Valdir Briani ◽  
Marcella Ferraz Pazzinatto ◽  
Marina Cabral Waiteman ◽  
Danilo de Oliveira Silva ◽  
Fábio Mícolis de Azevedo

2004 ◽  
Vol 04 (03) ◽  
pp. 283-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER S. PAN ◽  
KIMBERLY M. MILLER ◽  
SHARON CHIOU ◽  
JOHN Z. WU

Stilts are elevated tools that are frequently used by construction workers to raise workers 18 to 40 inches above the ground without the burden of erecting scaffolding or a ladder. Some previous studies indicated that construction workers perceive an increased risk of injury when working on stilts. However, no in-depth biomechanical analyses have been conducted to examine the fall risks associated with the use of stilts. The objective of this study is to evaluate a computer-simulation stilts model. Three construction workers were recruited for walking tasks on 24-inch stilts. The model was evaluated using whole body center of mass and ground reaction forces. A PEAK™ motion system and two Kistler™ force platforms were used to collect data on both kinetic and kinematic measures. Inverse- and direct-dynamics simulations were performed using a model developed using commercial software — ADAMS and LifeMOD. For three coordinates (X, Y, Z) of the center of mass, the results of univariate analyses indicated very small variability for the mean difference between the model predictions and the experimental measurements. The results of correlation analyses indicated similar trends for the three coordinates. Plotting the resultant and vertical ground reaction force for both right and left feet showed small discrepancies, but the overall shape was identical. The percentage differences between the model and the actual measurement for three coordinates of the center of mass, as well as resultant and vertical ground reaction force, were within 20%. This newly-developed stilt walking model may be used to assist in improving the design of stilts.


1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Mark Woodard ◽  
Margaret K. James ◽  
Stephen P. Messier

Our purpose was to compare methods of calculating loading rate to the first peak vertical ground reaction force during walking and provide a rationale for the selection of a loading rate algorithm in the analysis of gait in clinical and research environments. Using vertical ground reaction force data collected from 15 older adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and 15 healthy controls, we: (a) calculated loading rate as the first peak vertical force divided by the time from touchdown until the first peak; (b) calculated loading rate as the slope of the least squares regression line using vertical force and time as the dependent and independent variables, respectively; (c) calculated loading rate over discrete intervals using the Central Difference method; and (d) calculated loading rate using vertical force and lime data representing 20% and 90% of the first peak vertical force. The largest loading rate, which may be of greatest clinical importance, occurred when loading rates were calculated using the fewest number of data points. The Central Difference method appeared to maximize our ability to detect differences between healthy and pathologic cohorts. Finally, there was a strong correlation between methods, suggesting that all four methods are acceptable. However, if maximizing the chances of detecting differences between groups is of primary importance, the Central Difference method appears superior.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clayton ◽  
Hobbs

Gaits are typically classified as walking or running based on kinematics, the shape of the vertical ground reaction force (GRF) curve, and the use of inverted pendulum or spring-mass mechanics during the stance phase. The objectives of this review were to describe the biomechanical characteristics that differentiate walking and running gaits, then apply these criteria to classify and compare the enhanced natural gait of collected trot with the artificial gaits of passage and piaffe as performed by highly trained dressage horses. Limb contact and lift off times were used to determine contact sequence, limb phase, duty factor, and aerial phase duration. Ground reaction force data were plotted to assess fore and hind limb loading patterns. The center of mass (COM) trajectory was evaluated in relation to changes in potential and kinetic energy to assess the use of inverted pendulum and spring-mass mechanics. Collected trot and passage were classified as running gaits according to all three criteria whereas piaffe appears to be a hybrid gait combining walking kinematics with running GRFs and COM mechanics. The hind limbs act as springs and show greater limb compression in passage and piaffe compared with trot, whereas the forelimbs behave more like struts showing less compression in passage and piaffe than in trot.


2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Wang ◽  
Kazuhiko Watanabe

The notion of limb dominance has been commonly used in the upper extremity, yet the two lower extremities are often treated as equal for analytical purposes. Attempts to determine the effects of limb laterality on gait have produced conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to determine if limb dominance affects the vertical ground reaction force and center of pressure (COP) during able-bodied gait. The Parotec system (Paromed GmbH, Germany) was used to collect plantar foot pressure data. Fifteen subjects volunteered to participate in this study. The coefficient of variation of the COP displacement in the mediolateral direction and the variability of peak force beneath the lateral forefoot in the nondominant foot were significant greater than in the dominant foot. Moreover, COP velocity in the anterior-posterior direction during the terminal stance phase showed greater value in the dominant foot. Our study provides support for limb laterality by showing limb dominance affected the vertical ground reaction force and center of pressure during walking gait. This finding suggests it is an important issue in movement science for clinicians and would assist in improving sports performance and rehabilitation program.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Lucy S. Kember ◽  
Rhodri S. Lloyd ◽  
Gregory D. Myer ◽  
Isabel S. Moore

Context: Kinetic profiles of athletes performing the tuck jump assessment (TJA) are unknown and may provide insight into the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury. Design: The purpose of this study was to (1) analyze vertical kinetics of the TJA and (2) determine the stabilization of the kinetics across successive jumping cycles. Methods: Twenty-five healthy female athletes (age = 22.0 [4.6] y; height = 1.69 [0.07] m; body mass = 69.3 [10.3] kg) completed one trial of repeated tuck jumps on a force plate for 10 seconds. Results: Vertical ground reaction force data were used to calculate the following variables across all jump cycles: time of jump cycle (0.65 [0.04] s), ground contact time (0.22 [0.03] s), flight time (0.43 [0.04] s), duty factor (0.34 [0.05]), jump height (0.23 [0.04] m), peak vertical force (5.52 [0.91] body weight [BW]), peak center of mass displacement (0.15 [0.02] m), vertical leg stiffness (27.09 [7.06] BW·m−1), vertical average loading rate (105.94 [28.43] BW·s−1), vertical instantaneous loading rate (140.90 [28.49] BW·s−1), and net impulse (0.43 [0.03] BW·s). A sequential averaging technique indicated a minimum of 11 jumps were required for stabilization of the kinetics. Conclusions: The TJA exposes athletes to high magnitudes of vertical force. Based on the high variability of performance during early repetitions and the potential to miscategorize high-risk landing in female athletes, practitioners should consider scoring the TJA after 11 successive cycles and using kinetic profiling to support landing assessments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-30
Author(s):  
Erik A. Wikstrom ◽  
Kyeongtak Song ◽  
Kimmery Migel ◽  
Chris J. Hass

Aberrant loading is a mechanism by which individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) may negatively impact cartilage health and therefore long-term health outcomes. We aimed to quantify walking vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) component differences between those with and without CAI. Participants (n = 36) walked barefoot overground at a self-selected comfortable pace. Normalized peak vGRF, time to peak vGRF, and normalized loading rate were calculated. Higher normalized loading rates (CAI: 5.69 ± 0.62 N/BW/s; controls: 5.30 ± 0.44 N/BW/s, p = .034) and less time to peak vGRF (CAI: 1.48 ± 0.18 s; controls: 1.62 ± 0.16 s, p = .018) were observed in those with CAI. In conclusion, those with CAI demonstrate a higher normalized loading rate and less time to peak vGRF compared to controls.


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