Effects of wearing gumboots and leather lace-up boots on lower limb muscle activity when walking on simulated underground coal mine surfaces

Dobson, Jessica A.; Riddiford‐Harland, Diane L.; Steele, Julie R.

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2015.01.006

Cited by 19 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The type of steel-capped work boots worn by underground coal miners is generally restricted to those provided by their employer. These work boots traditionally come in two main styles (slip on or lace-up), being made of either rubber or leather (see Figure 1; Dobson et al, 2015). Despite the importance of footwear in the coal mining industry, there is a large gap in the scientific literature examining the work boots worn by underground coal miners.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given these changes, it is possible that, compared to 1999, the work boots coal miners wear might have changed sufficiently to enhance miner comfort and reduce lower limb pain when performing their work tasks. Indeed, Dobson et al (2015) reported that participants displayed differences in how they used their muscles while walking when wearing gumboots compared to leather lace up boots on changing surface conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are underground coal miners satisfied with their work boots?

et al. 2018

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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.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are underground coal miners satisfied with their work boots?

et al. 2018

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“…In contrast, Dobson (2013) found that when participants wore leather lace-up coal mining work boots (see Figure 4) that provided more stability and ankle support, relative to gumboots, they displayed increased activity of the muscles that cross the knee joint. The most likely reason for these contradictory results is the overriding influence of boot mass on lower limb motion (discussed below) irrespective of changes in boot support .…”

Section: Restrictions In Ankle Range Of Motion Can Negatively Affect mentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Increased proprioception acuity and trends towards more active ankle stiffness have resulted when circumferential ankle pressure was applied to the ankle, although this was applied using a blood pressure cuff and it is unknown whether a boot shaft would yield the same result (You et al, 2004). Dobson et al (2015) reported similar increases in quadriceps and hamstring muscle activity when participants wore a leather lace-up work boot with a stiff shaft compared to a gumboot (flexible shaft; see Figure 4). Joint moments and ankle muscle activity were not recorded in this study preventing a direct comparison with the results reported by Böhm and Hösl (2010).…”

Section: Restrictions In Ankle Range Of Motion Can Negatively Affect mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most likely reason for these contradictory results is the overriding influence of boot mass on lower limb motion (discussed below) irrespective of changes in boot support . It was also postulated that regardless of stability, a stiffer boot shaft has more of an influence when walking on surfaces that require additional muscular activity and joint motion to adapt the foot to an uneven surface, such as an inclines and declines, compared to walking on level surfaces (Dobson, 2013).…”

Section: Restrictions In Ankle Range Of Motion Can Negatively Affect mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Work boot design affects the way workers walk: A systematic review of the literature

et al. 2017

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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.

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