In the framework of environmentally friendly processes and products, poly lactic acid(PLA) represents the best polymeric substitutes for various petropolymers because of its renewability, biodegradability, biocompatibility and good thermomechanical properties [1]. The purpose of this study was to analyze foot pressure distribution of PLA materials in functional shoes. Comfort is an important as...

BACKGROUND There are a wide variety of ankle foot orthoses used in clinical practice which are characterised by their design, the material used and the stiffness of that material. Changing any of these three components will alter the effect of the ankle foot orthosis on gait. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this article is to provide an overview on the available research on ankle foot orthosis-foot...

BACKGROUND Footwear dermatitis represents a distinct and common group among all types of contact dermatitis cases seen in India. This ailment, however, often remains undiagnosed, misdiagnosed or empirically diagnosed without pinpointing the contributory allergens. AIMS This study was undertaken to detect the epidemio-allergological pattern of footwear dermatitis in India. METHODS A total nu...

BACKGROUND Synergetic talocrural and subtalar joint movements allow adaptation to different footwear and/or surface conditions. Therefore, knowledge of kinematic differences between barefoot and shod conditions is valuable for the study of adaptations to footwear conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the kinematic differences in the talocrural and subtalar joints during barefoot...

This study aimed to develop appropriate changes in a pair of shoes in order to improve the gait of an individual selected for this case study. This analysis took into account ergonomic aspects, namely those relating to the individual’s anthropometrics. Gait analysis was done with the adapted footwear both before and after intervention.A conventional X-ray was performed, which revealed a 29-mm l...

Although the role of Vibram Fivefingers® (minimal footwear) in running is gaining in popularity, the influence of this style of footwear on walking and energy efficiency is currently unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if energy efficiency was similar in barefoot walking compared to wearing Vibram Fivefingers®. Fifteen participants (8 females, 7 males, age range 21 – 48 years) w...

A new additive manufacturing technology for industrial mass production of footwear, apparel and accessories branded as “Haptic” will be introduced. Applying traditional non-digital screen printing technology for additive manufacturing, a totally new approach of footwear manufacturing was implemented successfully in 2015 at Huafeng Textile Group in China. Production was scaled up from zero to 50...

OBJECTIVE Recurrence of plantar foot ulcers is a common and major problem in diabetes but not well understood. Foot biomechanics and patient behavior may be important. The aim was to identify risk factors for ulcer recurrence and to establish targets for ulcer prevention. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS As part of a footwear trial, 171 neuropathic diabetic patients with a recently healed plantar ...

BACKGROUND A previous study highlighted the importance of footwear to individuals' sense of their identity, demonstrating that shoes must 'fit' someone socially, as well as functionally. However, unhealthy shoes can have a detrimental effect on both foot health and mobility. This project utilises qualitative social science methods to enable podiatrists to understand the broader contribution of ...

OBJECTIVE To describe footwear preferences of people with diabetes and a history of foot ulcer from two large western Washington State healthcare organizations. METHODS As part of a clinical trial of footwear, self-reported information on footwear preferences, use, and cost were obtained from persons with diabetes and a prior healed foot ulcer for the year before their study enrollment. All p...