Forces acting on the soles of the feet of healthy subjects and coxarthrosis patients climbing and descending stairs

We investigated the contact forces acting on the sole of the foot of health y persons and coxarthrosis patients climbing and descending stairs. The sole contact forces were determined using an experimental set-up compri sing a stair construction provided with an integrated measuring step. Results: In healthy subjects, the forces acting on the soles of the feet wh ile climbing stairs were found to be 1.2 times their body weight. With rega rd to descending stairs, a distinction must be made between "hard" and "sof t" walkers. In the case of "hard" walkers, the forces acting on the soles m ay be as much as 2.6 times body weight. These forces can be reduced by the wearing of shock-absorbing shoes. Conclusion: In coxarthrosis and prostheses-bearing patients, all movements are executed more slowly when climbing or descending stairs, so that only s mall dynamic forces arise. The greatest loads are about 1.2 times the patie nt's own weight. In these patients, an effective reduction by shockabsorbin g footwear is not possible.