Perception of footwear comfort and its relationship with the foot structure among youngest-old women and men

Background Adequate footwear comfort and functionality are important regardless of age, but they become particularly important in the youngest-old women and men, mainly due to the fact that this age range is the initial period of old age with changes in shoe preferences. The aim of this study was to assess the perception of footwear comfort and its relationship with the feet structure in youngest-old women and men. Methods The cross-sectional study covered community dwellers living on their own aged 65–74 years (50 women; 50 men). The feet characteristics were measured using the CQ-ST podoscope (Electronic System, Ltd, EU), and the perception of footwear comfort was assessed with a visual analogue scale. The assessment took into account gender-specific footwear of a certain brand (Befado Dr orto). Results Statistically significant intergender differences were observed in the perception of footwear comfort with respect to the shoe heel width (p = 0.022), the arch height (p = 0.013), the overall comfort (p = 0.049) and the material properties of the footwear (p = 0.017). In women, there were statistically significant positive relationships among the heel angle (γ) and the perception of footwear comfort in terms of heel cushioning (p = 0.021), forefoot cushioning (p = 0.015), arch height (p = 0.029). In men, there was a statistically significant negative relationship of the left foot Clarke’s angle with the heel height (p = 0.043), and a positive relationship between the right foot width and the arch height (p = 0.044). Conclusions Youngest-old women, compared to men of the same age range, have a higher perception of shoe comfort in terms of the shoe heel width, the arch height, the overall comfort of the footwear and the material properties of the footwear. The appropriate profile and construction of the shoe allows for an increase in the contact surface of the foot with the shoe, hence the improvement in the perception of footwear comfort in people with lowered arch or widened forefoot.

Difference in hoof conformation between shod and barefoot-managed hooves

Reasons for performing the studyHoof conformation is linked to biomechanics of the hoof and injury occurrence. There is no scientific data if conformation differs between shod and barefoot-managed hooves.ObjectivesTo investigate if and how shod and barefoot hooves differ in conformation.Study designRetrospective cohort study.MethodsStandardised lateral, dorsopalmar/dorsoplantar and solar photographs of 98 shod and 69 barefoot-managed hooves were included. Thirty-six of the barefoot horses were farrier-managed, 33 were podiatrist-managed. Length and angular measurements produced nine conformation parameters; dorsopalmar/plantar balance, solar symmetry, toe angle, heel angle, heel/toe angle difference, heel width, splaying index, flaring index and frog size.ResultsBarefoot hooves showed significantly fewer underrun heels, steeper heel angles, wider heels, increased splaying, increased flaring and larger frog size compared to hooves of shod horses. Solar symmetry showed a significant difference in front hooves but not hind hooves (P=0.038, P=0.104) and toe angle was not significantly different (P=0.368, P=0.425). There was no significant difference in the conformation of barefoot farrier and podiatrist-managed front hooves, however there was a significant difference in the hind hooves: farrier-managed hooves had longer frogs and shorter toes, compared to podiatrist-managed hooves.ConclusionsThe significant differences in hoof conformation found should be considered when managing the individual horse, since hoof conformation affects loading of the internal structure of the hoof and hence influences aetiopathogenesis of hoof pathology.

PEMODELAN DINDING CANTILEVER PENAHAN TANAH MENGGUNAKAN SAP 2000 DENGAN MENGANALISA KUAT TEKAN TERHADAP VARIASI BEBAN (STUDI KASUS DI RUAS JALAN BALEROJO KALEGEN)

The modeling of retaining wall is adapted to the real conditions on Balerejo Kalegen Street. This wall modeling uses a Cantilever type wall which has a height of 550 cm and a width of 385 cm which is useful for calculating the minimum strength of a cantilever wall for retaining the soil on the Balerejo Kalegen road. In addition, this wall is modeled to have a width of 55 cm, a heel width of 130 cm, a foot width of 130 cm, the width of the next leg is 100 cm, with a wall that enters it is 50 cm and using evenly distributed load variations has been adjusted where the load used is the burden amounting to 11,138, 5.5, 0.3869 tons. When inputting data into SAP 2000 beforehand, calculations must be made related to the force that will affect the wall, then modeling the walls according to the Cantilever shape. After that, Cantilever wall that has been made can be calculated compressive strength and shear strength where the compressive strength of the front wall with an average of 175,154 tons m, the back with an average of 62,666 tons m, the average front heel 866,054 tons m , and the back heel averages 910,463 tons m. Keywords: Cantilever, Retaining Walls, SAP 2000.

ANALISA KUAT TEKAN TERHADAP VARIASI BEBAN PEMODELAN DINDING CANTILEVER MENGGUNAKAN SAP 2000

The construction of a retaining wall that is classified as simple is necessary to consider the model, analysis of the material, and the calculation of the avalanche that will fall on the retaining wall. This study used the modelling method of retaining wall with the calculation method of SAP 2000. This wall modelling used a Cantilever type wall with a height of 550 cm and a width of 385 cm. This modelling is useful to calculate the minimum strength of the cantilever wall for retaining the soil at the Balerejo Kalegen road. Further, this wall was modelled to have a width of 55 cm, a heel width of 130 cm, a foot width of 130 cm, the following foot width of 100 cm, with a wall that was embedded with a depth of 50 cm and used evenly distributed load variations, which has been adjusted where the load used were 11.138, 5.5, 0.3869 tons. When inputting data into SAP 2000 beforehand, calculations must be made related to the force that will affect the wall, followed by wall modelling according to the Cantilever shape. Subsequently, the compressive and shear strength of the Cantilever wall that has been made can be calculated where the compressive strength produced of the front wall has an average of 175.154 tons m; that of the back has an average of 62.666 tons m; that of the front heel has an average of 866.054 tons m, and that of the back heel has an average of 910.463 tons m. Based on the data and analysis of the design of the soil retaining wall in the Balarejo road section, the average compressive strength for the front wall is 175.154 tons m. It shows that the soil retainer is very good compared to the pressure from the soil that will be received.

Analysis of 1.2 million foot scans from North America, Europe and Asia

For decades, footwear brands have developed products using outdated methods and measurements, working with limited insight into the foot shapes and dimensions of their target customers. The integration of 3D scanning technology into footwear retail stores has made it possible for this research to analyze a database containing a large number of male and female 3D foot scans collected across North America, Europe, and Asia. Foot scans were classified into length classes with 5mm length increments; mean width, instep height, and heel width were calculated for each length class. This study confirms the existence of many statistically significant differences in mean foot measurements amongst the regions and between the sexes, and a large dispersion of foot measurements within each group of customers. Therefore, shoes should be developed separately for each group, region, and sex, and at least 3 shoe widths per length class are required to provide a proper fit for 90% of customers. Beyond this, our analysis asserts that a shoe designed for a single group will fit a different segment of the population in another group, and that existing last grading tables should be updated to reflect the foot dimensions of current consumers.

Does Foot Placement Affect the Reliability of Static Foot Posture Measurements?

Background Previous studies have reported conflicting results on whether different foot placements in standing can affect static measurements of foot posture. We sought to determine whether three measurements of static foot posture could be consistently measured in three different foot placements while standing. Methods Twenty individuals, 12 women and eight men, with a mean age of 24.8 years consented to participate. Two raters assessed the dorsal arch height, midfoot width, and heel width of each foot while the participant stood in the following three foot placements: a standardized placement, a participant-determined placement after marching in place, and a rater-determined foot placement based on observation of the participant's angle of gait and base of support while walking. Results All three measurements of static foot posture were shown to have high levels of intrarater and interrater reliability. Significant differences in the measurements of dorsal arch height, midfoot width, and heel width were found among all three of the foot placements. There were no differences between the two raters for any of the three measurements of foot posture. Conclusions Based on these findings, we recommend that clinicians perform measurements of static foot posture using the same standing foot placement between sessions to ensure a high level of measurement consistency.

Changes in Male Foot Shape and Size with Weightbearing

Accurate, consistent measurement of foot-ankle geometry is essential for the design and manufacture of well-fitting, functional, comfortable footwear; for the diagnosis of certain biomechanical disorders; and for consistent longitudinal monitoring and assessment of pedorthic treatment outcomes. We sought to formulate a basic set of measures characterizing the principal geometric dimensions of the foot, to investigate how these measures vary with increasing weightbearing, and to explore the implications of weightbearing changes in pedal geometry for orthopedic footwear design and manufacture. The right feet of 40 healthy men aged 22 to 71 years were scanned using the Department of Veterans Affairs Pedorthics Optical Digitizer in neutral alignment, sequentially bearing 0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, and 100% of the subjects’ body weight. With support of the full body weight, the following mean changes in the pedal parameters were observed: heel-to-toe length, 1.5%; ball width, 4.3%; maximum heel width, 4.8%; and instep height, –9.3%. On average, 71% of the changes sustained in the pedal parameters at full weightbearing occurred when, or before, 25% of the body weight was applied. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 96(4): 330–343, 2006)

Update on Women's Footwear

Shoes have been implicated as being responsible for the majority of foot deformities and problems that physicians encounter in women. In our original study of 356 women, the majority of women studied wore shoes that were too small for their feet, had foot pain and deformity, and had increased in shoe size since the age of 20. The women without foot pain or deformities also wore shoes that were smaller than their feet but to a lesser degree. In the present study, data on 255 of the original 356 women are evaluated. Tracings were made of the standing foot and the shoe. Measurements were made of forefoot and the heel width. An index of forefoot width to heel width was developed. The indices do not vary much among women. Based on linear measurements, as forefoot width increases, so does heel width. As foot length increases, forefoot width increases to a greater extent than heel width.