OBJECTIVE: This study examines the relationship between obesity and foot structure in prepubescent children. DESIGN: Field-based, experimental data on BMI (body mass index) and foot structure were collected for 431 consenting children from 18 randomly selected primary schools. SUBJECTS: Of the 431 participants, 62 obese (BMI b 95th percentile) and 62 non-obese (10th percentile`BMI b 90th percentile) children (age 8.5 AE 0.5 y) were selected. MEASUREMENTS: Height and weight were measured to calculate BMI. Static weight-bearing footprints for the right and left foot of each subject were then taken using a pedograph to calculate the Footprint Angle and the ChippauxSmirak Index as representative measures of the surface area of the foot in contact with the ground. RESULTS: A signi®cant difference was found between the Footprint Angle of the obese and non-obese subjects for both the left (t 3.663; P`0.001) and right (t 3.742; P`0.001) feet whereby obese subjects displayed a reduced angle. Chippaux ± Smirak Index scores were also signi®cantly different for both the left (t 7 6.362; P`0.001) and right (t 7 5.675; P`0.001) feet between the two subject groups where a greater score for the obese subjects was evident. A decreased footprint angle and an increased Chippaux ± Smirak Index are characteristic of structural foot changes that have been associated with compromised foot function. CONCLUSIONS: Excess body mass appears to have a signi®cant effect on the foot structure of prepubescent children whereby young obese children display structural foot characteristics which may develop into problematic symptoms if excessive weight gain continues. Further investigation into possible consequences, particularly any effects on foot function, is warranted.

Lower limb functionality in young obese children is impeded when they move their greater body mass against gravity.

Safety boots are compulsory in many occupations to protect the feet of workers from undesirable external stimuli, particularly in harsh work environments. The unique environmental conditions and varying tasks performed in different occupations necessitate a variety of boot designs to match each worker's occupational safety and functional requirements. Unfortunately, safety boots are often designed more for occupational safety at the expense of functionality and comfort. In fact, there is a paucity of published research investigating the influence that specific variations in work boot design have on fundamental tasks common to many occupations, such as walking. This literature review aimed to collate and examine what is currently known about the influence of boot design on walking in order to identify gaps in the literature and develop evidence-based recommendations upon which to design future research studies investigating work boot design.

Professional surfers can optimize their potential single-wave scores during competition by successfully completing aerial maneuvers. However, aerial maneuvers continue to be a high-risk maneuver with a significantly lower completion rate. Our findings suggest that surfers should aim to improve their aerial-maneuver completion rate via surf practice or land-based training drills.

Objective: There is debate as to the effects of obesity on the developing feet of children. We aimed to determine whether the flatter foot structure characteristic of obese primary school-aged children was due to increased medial midfoot plantar fat pad thickness (fat feet) or due to structural lowering of the longitudinal arch (flat feet). Methods and procedures: Participants were 75 obese children (8.3±1.1 years, 26 boys, BMI 25.2±3.6 kg m À2 ) and 75 age-and sex-matched non-obese children (8.3 ± 0.9 years, BMI 15.9 ± 1.4 kg m À2 ). Height, weight and foot dimensions were measured with standard instrumentation. Medial midfoot plantar fat pad thickness and internal arch height were quantified using ultrasonography. Results: Obese children had significantly greater medial midfoot fat pad thickness relative to the leaner children during both non-weight bearing (5.4 and 4.6 mm, respectively; Po0.001) and weight bearing (4.7 and 4.3 mm, respectively; Po0.001). The obese children also displayed a lowered medial longitudinal arch height when compared to their leaner counterparts (23.5 and 24.5 mm, respectively; P ¼ 0.006). Conclusion: Obese children had significantly fatter and flatter feet compared to normal weight children. The functional and clinical relevance of the increased fatness and flatness values for the obese children remains unknown.

Dissatisfaction with work boot design is common in the mining industry. Many underground coal miners believe their work boots contribute to the high incidence of lower limb injuries they experience. Despite this, the most recent research to examine underground coal mining work boot satisfaction was conducted over a decade ago. This present study aimed to address this gap in the literature by assessing current mining work boot satisfaction in relation to the work-related requirements for underground coal mining. 358 underground coal miners (355 men; mean age = 39.1 ± 10.7 years) completed a 54-question survey regarding their job details, work footwear habits, foot problems, lower limb and lower back pain history, and work footwear fit and comfort. Results revealed that underground coal miners were not satisfied with their current mining work boots. This was evident in the high incidence of reported foot problems (55.3%), lower back pain (44.5%), knee pain (21.5%), ankle pain (24.9%) and foot pain (42.3%). Over half of the underground coal miners surveyed believed their work boots contributed to their lower limb pain and reported their work boots were uncomfortable. Different working roles and environments resulted in differences in the incidence of foot problems, lower limb pain and comfort scores, confirming that one boot design cannot meet all the work-related requirements of underground coal mining. Further research examining the interaction of a variety of boot designs across the different underground surfaces and the different tasks miners perform is paramount to identify key boot design features that affect the way underground coal miners perform. Enhanced work boot design could improve worker comfort and productivity by reducing the high rates of reported foot problems and pain amongst underground coal miners.

Differences in the upper torso posture, range-of-motion, and muscle strength of women with large breasts provides insight into underlying causes of their musculoskeletal pain. This information can be used to develop evidence-based assessment and treatment strategies to relieve and prevent symptom progression.

Lower limb injuries are highly prevalent in underground coal mining. Wearing gumboots with inadequate ankle support was thought to contribute to these injuries. Despite the uptake of leather lace-up boots, which provide more ankle support, no recent research could be found investigating the effect of this alternative work boot in underground coal mining. Consequently, this study aimed to determine whether boot type (gumboot, leather lace-up boot) influenced work footwear habits, foot problems, lower limb pain, lower back pain, or perceptions of work boot fit and comfort in underground coal miners. Chi-squared tests were applied to 358 surveys completed by underground coal miners to determine whether responses differed significantly (p < 0.05) according to boot-type. There were no significant between-boot differences in regards to the presence of foot problems, lower limb pain or lower back pain. However, the types of foot problems and locations of foot pain differed according to boot type. Gumboot wearers were also more likely to state that their work boot comfort was either 'uncomfortable' or 'indifferent', their work boot fit was 'poor' and their current boot did not provide enough support. The introduction of more structured leather lace-up boots appears to have positively influenced the support and fit provided by mining work boots, although foot problems, lower limb pain and lower back pain continue to be reported. Further investigation is recommended to identify which specific boot design features caused these observed differences in work boot fit, comfort and locations of foot pain and how these design features can be manipulated to create an underground coal mining work boot that is comfortable and reduces the high incidence of foot problems and lower limb pain suffered by underground coal miners.