The effects of shoes with a rounded soft sole in the anterior–posterior direction on leg joint angle and muscle activity

Influence of unstable footwear on lower leg muscle activity, volume change and subjective discomfort during prolonged standing

“…Several scientific studies have investigated the impact of unstable footwear (shoe with a rocker sole) on biomechanical objective measures during walking so far. These studies support the general concept that unstable footwear have positive effects on gait kinematic, kinetic, and muscular activity (Demura and Demura, 2012;Hutchins et al, 2009;Nigg et al, 2012Nigg et al, , 2006Romkes et al, 2006;Sobhani et al, 2013;Stewart et al, 2007;Taniguchi et al, 2012). With regard to standing, previous studies in the laboratory settings commonly evaluated the effects of unstable footwear on subjective and objective measures, including perceived instability, center of pressure (CoP) excursion, plantar pressure distribution, muscular activity, and physiological responses during maximum of 1-min standing in first use of unstable shoe (shoe with a rounded sole design in the anterioreposterior direction) (Buchecker et al, 2012;Plom et al, 2014;Stewart et al, 2007) or in before and after accommodation periods (use the unstable shoe for 2e10 weeks) (Nigg et al, 2006;Sousa et al, 2012;Landry et al, 2010).…”

Rollover footwear affects lower limb biomechanics during walking

“…To date, however, the literature has generally focussed on how separate aspects of gait are affected e.g. kinematics and kinetics [1][2][3][4], or plantar pressure [5,6], or EMG [7,8], or energy cost [9,10], but not how changes in one data might relate to changes in other data. Thus, it is not clear what kinematic or EMG changes occurred when changes in metabolic cost of walking were observed [9,10].…”

“…For example, Demura et al [1], Myers et al [2], Nigg et al [3], Taniguchi et al [4] and Romkes et al [7] reported loss of normal ankle plantar flexion in early stance with MBT footwear (Masai Barefoot Technology, characterised by soft heel and a rounded shoe sole in the anteriorposterior direction). Perhaps this is due to the curved rearfoot profile shifting the centre of pressure (COP) and ground reaction force anterior to the ankle.…”

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

“…The amount of flexibility in a work boot sole is primarily determined by the materials used to construct the layers of the sole, which will also determine its thickness, elasticity, texture and padding (Nigg et al, 2003;Nurse et al, 2005). An abundance of literature has documented the influence of variations in shoe sole flexibility on variables characterising gait (Demura and Demura, 2012;Hardin et al, 2004;Kersting et al, 2005;Nigg et al, 2003;Nurse et al, 2005;Wakeling et al, 2002) and oxygen consumption (Roy and Stefanyshyn, 2006). Literature pertaining to work boot sole flexibility, on the other hand, is sparse and lacking conclusive results due to confounding boot design differences.…”

“…For example, numerous studies have identified differences in variables characterising walking between shod and barefoot conditions (Bishop et al, 2006;Bonacci et al, 2013;Shakoor and Block, 2006), shoes of varying sole hardness/texture (Demura and Demura, 2012;Hardin et al, 2004;Kersting et al, 2005;Nigg et al, 2003;Nurse et al, 2005;Wakeling et al, 2002), differences between standard and athletic shoes (Bourgit et al, 2008;Kong et al, 2009;Lee et al, 2011) and unstable footwear (Myers et al, 2006;Nigg et al, 2006;Scott et al, 2012). However, research quantifying how work boot design influences walking biomechanics is much more spare and lacking conclusive results.…”