IN-SHOE PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION FOR RUNNING IN VARIOUS TYPES OF FOOTWEAR

Discrete pressure sensors were used to examine the influence of shoe c onstruction on the local forces under the foot. Measurements were perf ormed at eight locations under the feet of 22 subjects wearing 19 diff erent models of running shoes. Mechanical properties of shoe soles wer e assessed with an impacter device. Pressure distribution, ground reac tion force, and acceleration data were collected simultaneously during running at 3.3 m/s. Early lateral loading of the rearfoot was followe d by increasing medial forefoot loads. In the later phase of pushoff t he load was almost entirely carried by the first metatarsal head and t he hallux. Substantial differences in plantar foot pressures and relat ive loads among shoe models indicated that footwear construction has a substantial influence on the loading behavior of the foot during grou nd contact. Finally, the chosen sensor locations under the foot were f ound to be adequate to estimate the vertical ground reaction force.