Shoe microclimate (temperature and humidity) has been suggested to contribute to perceptions of foot thermal comfort. However, limited data is available for perceptual responses in relation to shoe microclimate development both over time and within different areas of the shoe. This study evaluates perceptions of foot thermal comfort for two running shoes different in terms of air permeability in relation to temporal and spatial characteristics of shoe microclimate. The temporal characteristics of shoe microclimate development were similar for both shoes assessed. However, higher temperatures and humidity were observed for the less permeable shoe. Changes to shoe microclimate over time and differences between shoes were perceivable by the users.This study provides the most detailed assessment of shoe microclimate in relation to foot thermal comfort to date, providing relevant information for footwear design and evaluation. physical activity where the feet are enclosed in shoes for extended periods of times i.e. marathon runners (Auger et al. 1993). Intermediate levels of moisture have also been shown to increase coefficients of friction which have been found to influence the probability of blister formation (Sulzberger et al. 1966). Changes to the shoe microclimate therefore encourage the growth of microorganisms which can lead to odour development and to poor foot health. Knowledge regarding the subjective evaluation of shoe microclimate is limited, with little published information available. Although subjective perception of foot may not always coincide with measured foot (Barkley et al. 2011), local discomfort has been attributed to elevations in temperature rather than elevations in the moisture content both within hiking boots (Arezes et al. 2013) and within sock and boot liner materials worn within protective footwear (Irzmanska et al. 2013). The influence moisture has on foot comfort therefore requires further investigation as it is unknown whether changes in temperature and/or humidity help an individual in determining perceptions of thermal comfort. Despite the impact shoe microclimate has on foot health and foot thermal comfort, to our knowledge no quantitative shoe microclimate data is available over time, within different areas of the shoe or in relation to perceptual responses specifically for sports related footwear. With exercise, metabolic heat generation and sweat rates are high and so balancing the amount of heat supplied to or generated by the feet with heat loss becomes crucial. Currently, only changes to foot during running have been reported (Barkley et al. 2011; Shimazaki and Murata 2015; Shimazaki et al. 2015). During a 30 minute running bout at 12 km hr -1 temperature elevations from rest of 8.2°C were observed at the heel and 4.8°C at the neck of the big toe, foot regions associated with high contact loads and pressure during running (Shimazaki and Murata 2015). Increased ventilation within running shoes has also been shown to produce a cooling effect, reducing foot elevations, particula...
The measurement of moisture in textile materials worn on or near the skin can be performed for a variety of reasons, for example, to analyze the amount of perspiration in clothing, wound fluid in bandages or even urine in diapers or bed sheets. Conventional moisture measurement methods, such as electrical resistance or capacitance measurement, can be susceptible to cross sensitivities to electrical fields or ionic impurities, often occurring in measurements close to the human body. The very reliable gravimetric methods are too bulky and difficult to be integrated in portable and online measurements. In this paper, the authors present a “transient heat moisture sensor” (THMS) which is small and comparatively easy to integrate into textiles. The authors describe the measurement principle and present a sensor element manufactured with thin film technologies. The analytical description of the sensor fits to both, experimental data and the result of first numerical analysis (COMSOL Multiphysics). The authors demonstrate how to limit the sensors spatial sensitivity to a thin layer of textile without being influenced by the adjacent environment by proper timing of the signal readout.
Moisture in textile materials worn close to the skin greatly influences our daily comfort. The measurement of moisture in textile materials is therefore of great interest, for example, to determine the amount of perspiration in clothing or car seats, the wound fluid in dressings, or even the urine in diapers or bed linen. All these applications require a robust moisture measurement method, which is harmless to humans and measures in thin layers. One method ideally suited to fit these requirements is the transient‐heat moisture sensing (THMS) method. Herein, a miniaturized and evolved adaption of the THMS method is shown. The measurement system presented herein is optimized for low energy consumption and portability. The working principle of this measuring system is demonstrated by conducting a simple test to investigate the transplanar wicking of eight fundamentally different but garment‐typical textiles. The THMS method and its ability to measure in thin layers that is ideally suited to measure moisture in thin layers are shown. Finally, it lays a foundation to enable a multitude of future applications, wherever moisture (e.g., sweat) is to be measured with high accuracy and with a wearable system close to the human skin.
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