Subject Specific Optimisation of the Stiffness of Footwear Material for Maximum Plantar Pressure Reduction.

ABSTRACT: Current selection of cushioning materials for therapeutic footwear and orthoses is based on empirical and anecdotal evidence. The aim of this investigation is to assess the biomechanical properties of carefully selected cushioning materials and to establish the basis for patient-specific material optimisation. For this purpose, bespoke cushioning materials with qualitatively similar mechanical behaviour but different stiffness were produced. Healthy volunteers were asked to stand and walk on materials with varying stiffness and their capacity for pressure reduction was assessed. Mechanical testing using a surrogate heel model was employed to investigate the effect of loading on optimum stiffness. Results indicated that optimising the stiffness of cushioning materials improved pressure redu

SUBMITTER: Chatzistergos PE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5527058 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature