Prescribed footwear and orthoses are not prophylactic in preventing lower extremity injuries in military tactical athletes: a systematic review with meta-analysis

IntroductionMilitary members are exposed to high cumulative physical loads that frequently lead to injury. Prescribed footwear and orthoses have been used to prevent injury. The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to assess if prescribed prophylactic footwear or foot orthoses reduced the risk of lower extremity injury in military tactical athletes.MethodsMEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, SportDiscus, and Defense Technical Information Center databases were searched for randomised controlled trials published at any time that compared foot orthoses or prescribed footwear (to include shock-absorbing insoles and socks) with a placebo intervention or a no-treatment control. Methodological quality was assessed and the number of injuries, population at risk and duration of the study epoch were extracted and relative risk (RR) calculated. An omnibus meta-analysis was performed assessing all prescribed footwear and orthoses intervention studies, with subgroup analyses conducted on studies with similar interventions (ie, basketball athletic shoes, athletic shoes (prescribed by foot type), foot orthoses, shock-absorbing insoles, socks, tropical combat boots).ResultsOf 1673 studies identified, 22 were included. Three of eight studies that employed orthoses demonstrated significantly reduced overuse injuries compared with no-treatment controls (RR range: 0.34–0.68); one study showed neoprene insoles significantly decreased overuse injuries (RR: 0.75). There were no other significant effects in the individual studies and no protective effects observed in the omnibus meta-analysis or in the component subanalyses.ConclusionsPrescribed footwear and orthoses do not appear to have a prophylactic effect on lower quarter musculoskeletal injuries in military members and cannot be recommended at this time.

Prescribed footwear and orthoses are not prophylactic in preventing lower extremity injuries in military tactical athletes. A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Introduction: Military members are exposed to high cumulative physical loads that frequently lead to injury. Prescribed footwear and orthoses have been used to prevent injury. The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to assess if prescribed prophylactic footwear or foot orthoses reduced lower extremity injury risk in military tactical athletes. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, SportDiscus, and DTIC databases were searched for randomized controlled trials published at any time that compared foot orthoses or prescribed footwear (to include shock-absorbing insoles and socks) to a placebo intervention or a no-treatment control. Methodological quality was assessed and numbers of injuries, population at risk, and the duration of the study epoch were extracted and relative risk (RR) calculated. An omnibus meta-analysis was performed assessing all prescribed footwear and orthoses intervention studies, with subgroup analyses conducted on studies with similar interventions [i.e., basketball athletic shoes; athletic shoes (prescribed by foot type); foot orthoses; shock-absorbing insoles; socks; tropical combat boots]. Results: Of 1,673 studies identified, 22 studies were included. Three of eight studies that employed orthoses demonstrated significantly reduced overuse injuries compared to no treatment controls (RR range: 0.34-0.68); one study showed neoprene insoles significantly decreased overuse injuries (RR: 0.75). There were no other significant effects in the individual studies, and no protective effects observed in the omnibus meta-analysis or in the component sub analyses. Conclusions: Prescribed footwear and orthoses do not appear to have a prophylactic effect on lower quarter MSKI in military members and cannot be recommended at this time.

Effects of worn and new footwear on plantar pressure in people with gout

Background In clinical trials, good quality athletic shoes offer short-term improvements (two-months) in foot pain and disability in people with gout, but these improvements are not sustained over time. This may be due to wear and subsequent changes to the structural integrity of the shoe. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of wear on plantar pressures and footwear characteristics in shoes over six-months in people with gout. Methods Forty people with gout participated in a cross-sectional repeated measures study. Participants wore a pair of commercially available athletic footwear for six-months. Participants then attended a study visit where the worn footwear was compared with a new pair of the same model and size of footwear. Wear characteristics (upper, midsole, outsole) and plantar pressure were measured in the two footwear conditions. Wear characteristics were analysed using paired t-tests and Fisher’s exact tests. Plantar pressure data were analysed using linear mixed models. Results Increases in medial midsole (P < 0.001), lateral midsole (P < 0.001) and heel midsole (P < 0.001) hardness were observed in the worn shoes. Normal upper wear patterns (P < 0.001) and outsole wear patterns (P < 0.001) were observed in most of the worn shoes. No differences in peak plantar pressures (P < 0.007) were observed between the two footwear conditions. Reduced pressure time integrals at the first metatarsophalangeal joint (P < 0.001), second metatarsophalangeal joint (P < 0.001) and hallux (P = 0.003) were seen in the worn shoes. Conclusions The study found signs of wear were observed at the upper, midsole and outsole in the worn footwear after six-months. These changes to the structural properties of the footwear may affect forefoot loading patterns in people with gout.

Effects of Typical Athletic Shoes on Postural Balance According to Foot Type

Background The effects of shoes and foot type on balance are unclear. We aimed to investigate the differences between static and dynamic balance among three foot types and the changes in postural balance while wearing typical athletic shoes. Methods Based on the Foot Posture Index, the feet of 39 participants were classified as pronated, neutral, or supinated by a physiatrist. Static and dynamic balance function were assessed by center of gravity (COG) sway velocity with eyes open and eyes closed and a modified Star Excursion Balance Test in a random order with participants either barefoot or wearing shoes. Results The COG sway velocity was significantly higher in the supinated foot group than in the neutral foot group (barefoot: eyes open, P = .004, eyes closed, P = .001). Normalized composite reach distance (NCRD) was significantly lower in the pronated and supinated foot groups (barefoot: P = .039, P = .008; shoes: P = .018, P = .018). In all three foot type groups, COG sway velocity was significantly decreased (P &lt; .05) and NCRD was significantly increased (P &lt; .05) while wearing typical athletic shoes. Conclusions The medial longitudinal arch of the foot affects postural balance. Typical athletic shoes improve postural balance regardless of foot type. However, the pronated and supinated foot groups still had lower dynamic postural balance compared with the neutral foot group, even when wearing athletic shoes. People with pronated and supinated feet may need additional interventions, such as foot orthoses or balance training.

“Jewelry by Foot Locker: One Step Beyond”

Foot Locker Inc. is known globally for its athletic shoes and apparel and has the brand identity to leverage its name by diversifying into other product lines. Foot Locker wants to be known for more than just a “sneaker spot”, but they are missing that extra component or accessory that would broaden their brand image. Men go to Foot Locker locations for shoes and apparel, but their outfit is still not complete since it lacks one necessity-jewelry. Men mostly get their jewelry online or from major department stores. What if Foot Locker could fill in that void? This article analyzes Foot Locker relative to the men's accessories market. Jewelry is the oldest way of expression and combined with sneakers, it could be Foot Locker’s ticket to growth and continued success. We will discuss the possibility of Foot Locker starting their jewelry product extension that will be targeting their already known male demographic. Through the application of market research, creating an assortment plan, and global market research it is hypothesized that Jewelry by Foot Locker could become a great addition to the Foot Locker brand. If done properly, this jewelry extension could be the newest way Foot Locker improves their image and profits.

Postural Stability in Athletes: The Role of Age, Sex, Performance Level, and Athlete Shoe Features

The effects of different factors—such as age, sex, performance level, and athletic shoe features—on postural balance in athletes remain unclear. The main objective of our study is to identify the features of postural stability in athletes of different age, sex, performance level, and using different types of athletic shoes. This study assessed postural stability in athletes (n = 936, 6–47 years) in a normal bipedal stance with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). Postural stability was evaluated based on the center of pressure (COP), sway area (AS), and velocity (VCP) while standing on a stabiloplatform. Children (6–12 years) and teen athletes (13–17 years) showed reduced AS-EO (p < 0.01) and VCP-EO (p < 0.01) compared to control (n = 225, 7–30 years). In male and female athletes aged 18+, only VCP-EC was lower versus control. In females (13–17 and 18+), VCP-EO and EC were lower than in males (p < 0.05). Only in the Shooting group, the athletes’ performance levels had an effect on VCP-EO (p = 0.020). Long use of rigid athletic shoes with stiff ankle support was associated with reduced posture stability. Postural stability in athletes was mostly influenced by the athlete‘s age, and, to a lesser extent, by their sex, performance level, and athlete shoe features.

Bionic research on spikes based on the tractive characteristics of ostrich foot toenail

Inspired by the superior fixed and traction characteristics of ostrich foot toenails, we devised, optimized and manufactured the single structure and group arrangement of a new-style bionic spike for sprint shoes to improve athletic performance. The tractive performance of the bionic spike was tested by finite element analysis and experimental verification. The optimized single structure of the bionic spike had a top slope angle of 13° and the radius of the medial groove of 7.3 mm. Compared with the conventional conic spike, the maximal and stable extrusion resistances of the single bionic spike decreased by about 25% and 40% respectively, while the maximal and stable horizontal thrusts increased by about 16% and 10%, respectively. In addition, the arrangement of the bionic spikes was also optimized. Compared with the conventional spike group, the maximal and stable extrusion resistances of the bionic spike group decreased by 11.0% and 6.2%, respectively, while the maximal and stable horizontal thrusts increased by 20.0% and 16.0%, respectively. The current results may provide useful mechanical information that can help develop a better design of athletic shoes with the potential for advanced performance.

Human Body Dynamics Detection of Shock Absorption and Rebound Ability of Specialized Athletic Shoes

For those who love sports, not only appearance but also functionality are important considerations in the design of athletic shoes. This is a study done on 12 subjects on a college fencing team and other sports teams. The subjects wear experimental specialized athletic shoes, including fencing shoes and other similar athletic shoes. Five kinds of shoes, fencing shoes plus four other similar types of athletic shoes, were examined for their shock absorption and rebound capacities. No significant difference between was found among them in the lunge test. However, there were significant differences between the two types of shoes in the 15 cm and 35 cm jump-down tests and extra heel support silicone gaskets in the fencing-like shoes tests. The fencing shoes proved to be the worst in terms of rebound ability in the 35 cm jump-down test. The fencing shoes had the best shock absorption but the worst rebound ability. In terms of overall performance, fencing shoes had the best shock absorption capacity. It is advisable for fencing shoes to be required during fencing training and at tournaments, but the severity of bounces, jumps, and squats should be lowered to avoid damage to the heel.

A hybrid intelligence technique based on the Taguchi method for multi-objective process parameter optimization of the 3D additive screen printing of athletic shoes

This paper presents a hybrid intelligence technique based on the Taguchi method for multi-objective process parameter optimization of 3D additive screen printing of athletic shoes. 3D additive screen printing is mainly used in the high-end athletic shoes and clothes field. It requires overlapping and overprinting dozens of times to make the printed patterns stereoscopic. The process of 3D additive screen printing is complex and variable and the production cycle is long. Because of the variability of the screen printing process and the coupling between process parameters, there is no simple method to guide the trial production of new products and obtain the optimal process parameters of screen printing. Trial-and-error is often used but it expends a lot of manpower, materials, and financial resources. To solve the optimization problem, a Taguchi experiment based on fuzzy comprehensive evaluation with five factors and two responses was first designed. Then, a back-propagation network (BPN), least-squares support-vector machine (LSSVM), and random forest (RF) were trained with experimental data to obtain a forecasting model for the process parameters. On comparison, the RF forecasting model performed best in this case. Then, the multi-objective antlion optimizer (MOALO), which is a new multi-objective optimization algorithm with excellent performance, was improved to the IMOALO, and it was proved that IMOALO has a better performance than MOALO. Combining the RF forecasting model with IMOALO, and carrying out the optimization, the optimal process parameters were obtained. Actual printing production shows that the proposed hybrid intelligence technique improves the production efficiency and first pass yield of printed products.

Sustainable Development of Supply Chain in Footwear Industry – Take Nike as the Case

Rapid growth in demand for designer shoes, rising per capita incomes in developed and developing economies, and the growing popularity of high-end customers and athletic shoes among men have led to a growing global demand for fashionable and comfortable footwear of all ages (FELTON, 2018). The market share of footwear industry has expanded rapidly which attracted more and more new entrants. However, the competition of shoe industry more incline to the competition of the supply chain, so, it is essential to maintain a certain competitiveness in terms of supply chain. Sustainable development is an emerging but important topic. Some processes of the supply chain of the sportswear industry have been accused of restricting its development, such as the use of polluting raw materials and sweatshops. Supply chain development should not only focus on the economic level, but also pay more attention to the environmental and social aspects of sustainable development. Therefore, this paper will take Nike, the most representative company in the footwear industry, as the analysis target to reflect the development of the supply chain of the footwear industry.This paper will start with the general analysis of the footwear industry, followed by considering the industry change; then, analyse Nike’s core product – Nike Flyknit. Further, before making the conclusion, this paper will explore the impact of external factors, i.e. Nike’s cooperation with the US government and footwear related associations, on its supply chain development.