An Investigation of the Effects of Material and Incline Angle on a Foot Restraint System for the International Space Station

Abstract

All authors contributed equallyThis study presents a human factors assessment of the foot restraint system used aboard the International Space Station. We examine pressure distribution maps of 3 different restraint materials (elastic strap; canvas strap; metal bar) at 2 incline angles (0 and 20 degrees plantar flexion) to explore potential system improvements. Our findings reveal that the canvas strap yields the most optimal combination of broadly distributed pressure while maintaining a high subjective evaluation of comfort and security. Foot restraint angle was found to be most critical for modulating pressure distribution in high-force conditions, suggesting that inclination improves security and decreases injury risk in high-force work areas.