Generation and attenuation of transient impulsive forces beneath the foot:a review

At the end of the swing phase of gait, the moving foot generates a transien t force? due to the exchange of momentum as it contacts the ground. This re view article examines the transient, which is known as the heelstrike in wa lking and the footstrike in running. The resulting 'shock wave', which pass es up the limb, may produce damage, leading to degenerative joint disease a nd a variety of other pathologies. Protection against transient forces is p rovided by limb positioning at initial contact, by the anatomical heel pad, by materials used in shoe construction and by the use of viscoelastic shoe inserts. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.