BACKGROUND Rollover footwear is assumed to provide an enhanced surface over which the body can roll more easily. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rollover footwear on the rollover function of walking. METHODS Twenty subjects walked in three conditions: (i) a MBT shoe (Masai Barefoot Technology) characterized by a stiff sole rounded in the anterior-posterior direction; (...

Introduction Foot movement in heel-toe running is influenced by various shoe lacing patterns [1]. Different shoe lacing systems and techniques also offer the possibility to improve shoe fit and shoe comfort. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different lacing patterns on dorsal foot pressures during running. Furthermore, perceived comfort and shoe stability ratings were...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine whether running in a minimalist shoe results in a reduction in ground reaction forces and alters kinematics over standard shoe running. The secondary purpose of this study was to determine whether within-session accommodation to a novel minimalist shoe occurs. METHODS Subjects were 14 male, rearfoot striking runners who had never run in a min...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of constrained weight shift induced by shoe lift beneath the unaffected lower extremity, on balance functions and electromyography of the affected lower extremity of stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Twelve patients with unilateral stroke were recruited as volunteers for this study. The subjects were repeatedly measured in a ...

BACKGROUND Shoe-surface interactions have been implicated in the high number of noncontact knee injuries suffered by athletes at all levels. PURPOSE To examine shoe-surface interactions on newer field designs and compare these with more traditional shoe-surface combinations. The peak torque and rotational stiffness (the rate at which torque is developed under rotation) were determined. STUD...

Shoe soles are possible vectors for infectious diseases. Although studies have been performed to assess the prevalence of infectious pathogens on shoe soles and decontamination techniques, no systematic review has ever occurred. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to determine the prevalence of infectious agents on shoe bottoms and possible decontamination...

Plantar forefoot pain is common in older people and is related to increased peak pressures under the foot during gait. Variations in the hardness of the shoe sole may therefore influence both the magnitude of loading under the foot and the perceived comfort of the shoe in this population. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of varying shoe sole hardness on plantar pressure...

Background: Studies on how the shoe insole hardness regulate joint stiffness and transfer energy in the lower extremity during jump landing are scarce. The current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of shoe insole changes in joint power and stiffness during landing from jumps. Methods: Fifteen healthy male athletes volunteered to perform jump-landing in various shoe insole conditions. ...

PURPOSE To quantify the effect of unstable shoe wearing on muscle activity and haemodynamic response during standing. METHODS Thirty volunteers were divided into 2 groups: the experimental group wore an unstable shoe for 8 weeks, while the control group used a conventional shoe for the same period. Muscle activity of the medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris and biceps femor...

Objectives: Foot and ankle problems are common complications in rheumatoid arthritis disease. Gait pattern such as normal foot and ankle rocker is impaired in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rocker sole as an external shoe modification is commonly prescribed in this pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rocker shoe on vertical ground reaction force parameters dur...