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Foot problems and deformities, which are highly prevalent in older people, may affect foot anthropometrics and result in older people having difficulty finding shoes that fit. This study aimed to characterise the dimensions and shape of the feet of older people and to determine whether foot anthropometrics were influenced by gender and/or the prese...
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... presence of any lesser toe deformities, such as claw or hammer toes, and participants were asked whether they suffered from, or had been diagnosed with, swollen or flat feet. prevalence of any of these foot problems differed according to gender, a series of Chi-square analyses were conducted. An alpha of 0.05 was selected as the level of significance for all statistical analyses, which were conducted using SPSS 15 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The distribution of shoe sizes for the men and women is illustrated in Figure 3. Shoe size for the women ranged from a US 4.5C to 13B, whereas the men ranged from an 8.5D to larger than a 14.5. The largest size that could be measured with the Brannock device was a man’s 14.5, with five of the men’s feet exceeding this value. Statistical analysis was conducted on data obtained for the right foot of each participant to ensure the assumption of data independence was met (Menz 2004). Independent t -tests were used to assess for any differences in absolute or normalised foot anthropometrics between men and women. Normalised foot anthropometrics were then entered into a stepwise discriminant function analysis to determine which variables were the most important in discriminating between the two genders. Independent t -tests were also used to determine any differences in normalised foot anthropometrics in those participants with specific foot problems (hallux valgus, toe deformities, swollen feet and flat feet) by comparing each of these four groups to those participants without any of the above men- tioned foot problems. In order to establish whether the Each of the 17 measured foot dimensions significantly differed between the two genders. Men recorded significantly larger values than the women for all dimensions with the exception of first toe and heel bone angles, whereby women had significantly larger angles (increased by 21.6 and 46.5%, respectively). As male participants had significantly longer feet (268.3 Æ 13.1 mm) than their female counterparts (245.7 Æ 13.5 mm; p 5 0.001), direct comparison of the absolute foot measurements were conducted for men and women whose foot length measured between 250– 256 and 257–262 mm (see Table 2). These two foot length categories corresponded with European shoe sizes 38 and 39, respectively (Krauss et al . 2008), and were the only two foot length categories with sufficient men and women to enable a valid statistical between- gender comparison. For the given foot length categories, men typically displayed great widths, heights and circumferences than the women, although the length measures did not differ between the genders (see Table 2). When foot dimensions, excluding angles, were normalised to foot length and averaged across all foot sizes, women had significantly lower first and fifth toe heights (7.4 and 5.5%, respectively) and a significantly longer medial ball length (1%; p 5 0.05) than their male counterparts. The stepwise discriminant function analysis identified first toe height, first toe angle, fifth toe angle, ball of foot height, medial ball length and instep circumference (in order of importance) to be associated with gender ( Ã 1⁄4 0.771; p 5 0.001). Fourteen percent ( n 1⁄4 43) of the participants reported that they suffered from swollen feet and 9% ( n 1⁄4 28) indicated that they had flat feet. Assessment of the participants’ feet revealed that 12% ( n 1⁄4 37) had moderate-to-severe hallux valgus and 25% ( n 1⁄4 78) had a lesser toe deformity. Fifty-four percent of the participants ( n 1⁄4 162) did not display any of these four foot problems and were therefore used as the comparison group. The only foot problem associated with gender was the presence of lesser toe deformity, whereby men had a higher incidence (30%) than women (19.5%; 2 1⁄4 4.4; p 1⁄4 0.02). When the foot dimensions were pooled for gender, older individuals who were identified as having moderate-to-severe hallux valgus, lesser toe deformities, swollen or flat feet had significantly different foot anthropometrics compared to those without any foot problems (see Table 3). Despite the world’s population ageing, this is the first study to comprehensively evaluate the foot shape of older adults living in Australia. Furthermore, it repre- sents one of the largest databases of foot anthropometrics for people aged over 60 years. Although similar measurements have been conducted on 213 Thai men and women aged 60–80 years (Chaiwanichsiri et al . 2008) and 268 Japanese men and women aged 56–81 years (Kouchi 2003), other reported studies investigat- ing foot dimensions of older individuals are ...
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Citations
... With the development of 3D scanning and CAD tools, efforts have been made to utilize these technologies in foot morphology studies and footwear design. Previous studies that have quantitatively evaluated the HVA either need palpation landmarks of feet before scanning [14,15,11,3], or manual adjustments of tangent lines on 3D scans [12,16,17]. ...
Background The forefoot is the foot most affected part by ill-fitting shoes. Footwear fitting standards have the measurements of length, width and arch length. Toe shape has not yet been used in footwear measurement. This study aims at investigating the variation in toe shape, as measured by the hallux valgus angle.
Methods An automatic and reproducible hallux valgus angle measuring method using 3D foot scans with no palpation markers is proposed and applied to about half a million samples collected across North America, Europe and Asia. The measuring method is robust, it can detect the medial contour along the proximal phalanx even in extreme cases.
Results The hallux valgus angle has a normal distribution with long tails on both sides in the general population. In the three regions (North America, Europe, Asia), the mean and standard deviation of this angle are 9° ± 6°, 8 ° ± 6°, 12° ± 6° for males and 11 ° ± 7°, 12 ° ± 7°, 16° ± 7° for females.
Conclusions The hallux valgus angle has a broad distribution in the general population. Females have larger hallux valgus angle than males, and people from Asia have larger hallux valgus angle than people from North America and Europe.
... For example, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction was proven the primary cause of the flatfoot deformity in both clinical and biomechanical studies [55,56]. In contrast, the adult-acquired flatfoot of the elderly could be compounded with morphological changes in physiological aging [54] and a higher prevalence of other foot deformities [57], in which 3D printed insoles or footwear may better address the poor fitting problem. The feet of elderly people tend to be flatter and broader [58,59] and have a medialized plantar pressure [60,61]. ...
The advancement of 3D printing and scanning technology enables the digitalization and customization of foot orthosis with better accuracy. However, customized insoles require rectification to direct control and/or correct foot deformity, particularly flatfoot. In this exploratory study, we aimed at two design rectification features (arch stiffness and arch height) using three sets of customized 3D-printed arch support insoles (R+U+, R+U−, and R−U+). The arch support stiffness could be with or without reinforcement (R+/−) and the arch height may or may not have an additional elevation, undercutting (U+/−), which were compared to the control (no insole). Ten collegiate participants (four males and six females) with flexible flatfoot were recruited for gait analysis on foot kinematics, vertical ground reaction force, and plantar pressure parameters. A randomized crossover trial was conducted on the four conditions and analyzed using the Friedman test with pairwise Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Compared to the control, there were significant increases in peak ankle dorsiflexion and peak pressure at the medial midfoot region, accompanied by a significant reduction in peak pressure at the hindfoot region for the insole conditions. In addition, the insoles tended to control hindfoot eversion and forefoot abduction though the effects were not significant. An insole with stronger support features (R+U+) did not necessarily produce more favorable outcomes, probably due to over-cutting or impingement. The outcome of this study provides additional data to assist the design rectification process. Future studies should consider a larger sample size with stratified flatfoot features and covariating ankle flexibility while incorporating more design features, particularly medial insole postings.
... Comfort is a pivotal indicator in examining footwear fitting (Mickle et al., 2010). In the present study, overall comfort perception was rated higher with shoes with flexible upper than participants' own shoes and the round style shoes, in line with the findings of Hurst et al. ...
Although shoes act as a protective covering for the feet, they can be an important source of pain and foot disorder if not properly fitted. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a shoe with highly compliant upper on the dorsal digital and interdigital pressure in comparison with shoes with a rounded toe box and participant’s own shoes in patients with Hallux Abducto Valgus (HAV) deformity. Eighteen participants with moderate to severe HAV were recruited. The patients’ perceived comfort and interdigital forefoot pressure were measured using force sensitive resistance sensors while wearing shoes with a round toe box and shoes with stretchable fabric upper and were compared to when the participants were wearing their own preferred shoes. Shoes with stretchable fabric upper significantly reduced the dorsal digital and interdigital pressure and increased perceived comfort. The results of the present study showed the superiority of shoes with stretchable fabric upper in reducing the pressure on the forefoot and the overall comfort compared to shoes with a round toe box and participant’s own shoes in people with HAV. It, therefore, seems that shoes with stretchable fabric upper can be recommended to ameliorate the treatment outcome in people with HAV.
... Two different sized shoe insoles were developed to increase the pool of available participants. The two shoe sizes used were based{Mickle, 2010 #37} [27] which showed that in the United States the average male shoe size was 10.5 and the average female shoe size Two different sized shoe insoles were developed to increase the pool of available participants. The two shoe sizes used were based{Mickle, 2010 #37} [27] which showed that in the United States the average male shoe size was 10.5 and the average female shoe size was 8.5. ...
... The two shoe sizes used were based{Mickle, 2010 #37} [27] which showed that in the United States the average male shoe size was 10.5 and the average female shoe size Two different sized shoe insoles were developed to increase the pool of available participants. The two shoe sizes used were based{Mickle, 2010 #37} [27] which showed that in the United States the average male shoe size was 10.5 and the average female shoe size was 8.5. The developed sensor-integrated insoles and detection circuits for a woman and a man are displayed in Figure 2. The insole sensor was placed under the factory shoe insole. ...
Ankle injuries may adversely increase the risk of injury to the joints of the lower extremity and can lead to various impairments in workplaces. The purpose of this study was to predict the ankle angles by developing a footwear pressure sensor and utilizing a machine learning technique. The footwear sensor was composed of six FSRs (force sensing resistors), a microcontroller and a Bluetooth LE chipset in a flexible substrate. Twenty-six subjects were tested in squat and stoop motions, which are common positions utilized when lifting objects from the floor and pose distinct risks to the lifter. The kNN (k-nearest neighbor) machine learning algorithm was used to create a representative model to predict the ankle angles. For the validation, a commercial IMU (inertial measurement unit) sensor system was used. The results showed that the proposed footwear pressure sensor could predict the ankle angles at more than 93% accuracy for squat and 87% accuracy for stoop motions. This study confirmed that the proposed plantar sensor system is a promising tool for the prediction of ankle angles and thus may be used to prevent potential injuries while lifting objects in workplaces.
... In particular, it is important to know the types of foot shapes and how the different feet of users can be explained by this taxonomy, i.e. the foot shape distribution. It is not only important from the shoe manufacturing point of view, since an improper fit prevents shoe purchase, but also because poorly fitting footwear can cause foot pain and deformity [1], especially in women. Therefore, numerous studies have been carried out on foot shapes [2][3][4][5][6][7]. ...
The taxonomy of foot shapes or other parts of the body is important, especially for design purposes. We propose a methodology based on archetypoid analysis (ADA) that overcomes the weaknesses of previous methodologies used to establish typologies. ADA is an objective, data-driven methodology that seeks extreme patterns, the archetypal profiles in the data. ADA also explains the data as percentages of the archetypal patterns, which makes this technique understandable and accessible even for non-experts. Clustering techniques are usually considered for establishing taxonomies, but we will show that finding the purest or most extreme patterns is more appropriate than using the central points returned by clustering techniques. We apply the methodology to an anthropometric database of 775 3D right foot scans representing the Spanish adult female and male population for footwear design. Each foot is described by a 5626 × 3 configuration matrix of landmarks. No multivariate features are used for establishing the taxonomy, but all the information gathered from the 3D scanning is employed. We use ADA for shapes described by landmarks. Women’s and men’s feet are analyzed separately. We have analyzed 3 archetypal feet for both men and women. These archetypal feet could not have been recovered using multivariate techniques.
... The feet of female subjects are relatively higher, but narrower than those of male subjects in the USA 4 . In Europe, Australia, China, and Taiwan, the feet of female subjects are lower and narrower compared to the male feet of similar foot length [5][6][7][8] . Other studies have identified differences between geographical regions. ...
... Previous studies [3][4][5][6][7][8] have reported substantial differences between male and female feet. This study confirms significant differences of mean widths, instep heights, and heel widths between male and female feet in all three geographical regions. ...
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.
... McPoil, 1988). Hence, good basic anatomic information should be known by footwear designers that should consider properly foot shape and internal structure for developing "fit" and "healthy" shoes (Krauss et al. 2011;Mickle et al. 2010). Long before, a part of being a fashion accessory, footwear also can be an alternative way to treat foot deformities. ...
Footwear was planned to protect the feet from the environment. Choosing the right footwear based on foot conditions and requirements enabling to reduce the risk of injury, fast fatigue, and foot pains. Good footwear should provide stability to the joints of the foot and a foundation upon which the foot can function. The objective of this study is to provide information that will assist researchers and designers in identifying, designing and offering appropriate and better working footwear designs for those with foot deformities. Two identified workers from the footwear factory with congenital foot deformities participated in this prospective intervention study for over 12 months. An interview and a video on how the participant wears and walk with normal commercial shoes were recorded. The physical examination was also assessed including the footwear, feet, legs, and hips of the subjects. They were examined with a focus on the areas of deformities. Each leg has different shape and concerns. Hence, each footwear designed for those with foot deformities must be customized base on the factors of type of deformities, body size and the remaining skeletal structure and muscular. With proper modification, people who have foot deformities and unable to buy suitable footwear will be able to relieve the pain and at the same time increase the individual motivation in job satisfaction, motivation or enthusiasm to work and reducing levels of stress or emotional upset.
... The construction of footwear must be controlled by the choice of upper shoes material, sole curvature, weight and design. Researches show that these are not independent variants [25], as the incorrect fitting of footwear can result in disease or pain and the most responsible for it is the width of the shoe, being the most affected users elderly people and adults [27][28][29]. Another problem involving footwear is the use of high heels, which can cause forefoot pressure, imbalance, knee alterations, muscle changes and foot pathologies [23]. ...
Footwear material is of great importance mainly considering the user’s health. There are many components in contact with upper and mainly lower part of foot, being the sole essential part to weight distribution, muscle activity and vertebral column. This study aimed to verify how the natural fibers are applied at Brazilian market footwear, demonstrating the types of raw materials utilized, textile constructions and other variables. As well as comparing the information at natural fibers applications data from economics sources and material employment at the footwear international market. The methodology was based in literature research and interviews with Brazilian companies. The employment of natural fibers in footwear corresponds to a small part in comparison of synthetic fibers. Cellulosic fibers have been researched to reinforce rubbers and they are applied to sole as snow footwear. In addition, these fibers are being researched as biodegradable materials, showing innovations for instance, the use of leather waste, coconut fiber and latex, multilayers fabrics and finishing process adding bactericide properties to cotton. Brazilian footwear industry is finding solutions to reduce production costs in order to compete in the international market. One of the strategies is the gradual replacement of leather by fabrics, synthetic polymers and rubbers. The interviews identified the employment of cotton, raffia and jute fabrics especially in footwear summer collections. Thus, the increasing of researches about recycling footwear components and the development of biodegradable materials points a sustainability trend in this sector.
... Long-term use of men's formal shoes can affect foot problems and deformities [1]. This study is about comparing user discomfort of the four most popular types of men's formal shoes and evaluating them while understanding which is the most ergonomically comfortable for men's daily professional activities. ...
The basic intention of this study was to find the discomfort of wearing formal shoes of regular working professionals like engineers who must look formal always. The independent variables are shoes heel height and shoes weight. The dependent variables are EMG signal of lower limb muscle actives and user discomfort questionnaire. This study considered 07 male participants of age group 20–30 in Lamar University campus and its neighborhood. Primarily, this study focused on the two lower limb muscles’ (Tibialis anterior and medial head of the gastrocnemius) activities to find the muscle stress of the participants. For both lower limb muscles, the two-way ANOVA analysis revealed a significant main effect of shoes weight. However, there was no significant main effect of shoes heel height on both muscle activities. The user discomfort survey indicates that low heel low weight shoe caused less fatigue and provided more comfort than the other types of shoes.
... There is evidence to suggest that the feet of older people are broader in the forefoot region and have a flatter medial longitudinal arch compared young people [40,41]. Furthermore, older individuals with foot pain display a greater number of foot deformities including hallux valgus and clawed lesser toes compared to older people without pain [42]. These differences in foot morphology may pose a problem for fitting, as shoes are designed to have smooth contours, and are not designed to accommodate irregular bony shapes associated with foot deformity [43]. ...
Background
Correct footwear fitting is acknowledged as being vitally important, as incorrectly fitted footwear has been linked to foot pathology. The aim of this narrative review was to determine the prevalence of incorrectly fitted footwear and to examine the association between incorrectly fitted footwear, foot pain and foot disorders.
Methods
A database search of Ovid MEDLINE and CINAHL yielded 1,681 citations for title and abstract review. Eighteen articles were included. Findings were summarised under the categories of (i) children, (ii) adults, (ii) older people, (iii) people with diabetes and (iii) occupation- or activity-specific footwear. Differences in footwear fitting between sexes were also explored.
Results
Between 63 and 72% of participants were wearing shoes that did not accommodate either width or length dimensions of their feet. There was also evidence that incorrect footwear fitting was associated with foot pain and foot disorders such as lesser toe deformity, corns and calluses. Specific participant groups, such as children with Down syndrome and older people and people with diabetes were more likely to wear shoes that were too narrow (between 46 and 81%).
Conclusion
A large proportion of the population wear incorrectly sized footwear, which is associated with foot pain and foot disorders. Greater emphasis should be placed on both footwear fitting education and the provision of an appropriately large selection of shoes that can accommodate the variation in foot morphology among the population, particularly in relation to foot width.
