Custom v Prefabricated Orthotics in Safety Shoes

NewsBot · Oct 20, 2016

Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
In shoe pressure measurements during different motor tasks while wearing safety shoes: The effect of custom made insoles vs. prefabricated and off-the-shelf
Paolo Caravaggi et al
Gait and Posture; in press

Highlights
•Safety shoes are heavy, rigid, uncomfortable and may cause foot problems.
•Standard insoles in safety shoes are inadequate and do not account for foot types.
•Fast walking in safety shoes results in high peak pressures.
•Custom insoles based on foot shape allow for more even pressure distribution in safety-shoes.
Click to expand...

Health and safety regulations in many countries require workers at risk to wear safety shoes in a factory environment. These shoes are often heavy, rigid, and uncomfortable. Wearing safety shoes daily leads to foot problems, discomfort and fatigue, resulting also in the loss of numerous working days. Currently, knowledge of the biomechanical effects of insoles in safety shoes, during working activities, is very limited.

Seventeen workers from a metalworking factory were selected and clinically examined for any foot conditions. Workers feet were 3D scanned, with regards to their plantar view, and the images used to design 34 custom-insoles, based on foot and safety shoe models.

Three insoles were blind-tested by each worker: custom (CUS); prefabricated with the safety-shoe (PSS), and off-the-shelf (OTS). Foot-to-insole pressure distribution was measured in seven motor tasks replicating typical working activities: single and double-leg standing; weight lifting; stair ascending and descending; normal and fast walking.

Wearing CUS within safety shoes resulted in a greater uniform pressure distribution across plantar regions for most of the working activities. Peak pressure at the forefoot during normal walking was the lowest in the custom insole (CUS 275.9 ± 55.3 kPa; OTS 332.7 ± 75.5 kPa; PSS 304.5 ± 54.2 kPa). Normal and fast walking were found to be the most demanding activities in terms of peak pressure.

Wearing safety shoes results in high pedobarographic parameters in several foot regions. The use of custom insoles designed on the foot morphology helps decrease peak pressure and pressure-time integral compared to prefabricated featureless insoles.
Click to expand...

Admin2 · Oct 20, 2016

Related Topics:
Biomechanical Assessment of Work Footwear
Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis Among Assembly Plant Workers
Other threads on prefab v custom

NewsBot · Mar 8, 2017

Comparison of Two Types of Insoles on Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Plantar Pressure Distribution in a Work Environment: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Almeida JS et al
Clin Med Res. 2016 Jun;14(2):67-74. doi: 10.3121/cmr.2016.1301.

BACKGROUND:
The aim of the present study was to assess plantar pressure distribution and musculoskeletal symptoms following the use of customized insoles among female assembly line workers.
METHODS:
The study included 29 female assembly line workers (age, 29.76 ± 5.79 years; weight, 63.79 ± 12.11 kg) with musculoskeletal symptoms who work predominantly while standing. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was administered to the study population. Plantar pressure was determined using a computerized plantar pressure feedback system. A control group (n=13) used ethylvinylacetate insoles (Podaly®) that were individually heat molded and heat glued. The intervention group (n=14) also used the insoles and a strip of the same material was added to the site of greatest plantar pressure as determined by the electronic feedback device. After five weeks, the plantar pressure data were collected again and the questionnaire was administered a second time.
RESULTS:
There was no significant difference between groups with regard to pain in any anatomic site. However, within each group the lumbar region exhibited a reduction in symptoms in the intervention group (P<0.05), and the feet exhibited a reduction in symptoms in both groups (P<0.05). Mean plantar pressure increased and plantar surface decreased in the intervention group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION:
Insoles increased foot comfort in both groups. However, the added strip did not significantly modify either plantar pressure or other symptoms in female workers.
Click to expand...

NewsBot · Oct 13, 2020

The Influence of Foot Orthotic Interventions on
Workplace Ergonomics
Umang Parashar et al
International Journal of Health Sciences and Research Vol.10; Issue: 7; July 2020

Background: Work related musculoskeletal disorders and overuse injuries due to prolonged standing
and walking activities are a common occurrence, leading to foot pain and disorders, owing to the
repetitive stress on the bones, joints and soft tissues. Prevention of such injuries involves the strategic
use of management strategies integrating physical and psychosocial requirements with human
characteristics. Several footwear designs and foot orthotic interventions have shown to influence this
relationship between musculoskeletal systems and work-place ergonomics.
Objective: The objective of this study is to summarize and highlight the use and impact of various
foot orthotic interventions and shoe design features on the ergonomics of the lower limb and foot,
specifically during long standing and work-place activities.
Method: A computerized search was conducted using Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed,
Cochrane Library and reference lists from all retrieved articles, using various search strategies.
Result: The use of various orthotic modifications such as heel cups, arch supports, metatarsal pads
and total contact inserts showed promising results, with respect to peak plantar pressure in the foot
and lower limb dynamics. Shoe fit, design and its characteristics like heel height, toe box along with
sole contouring and thickness are some of the important elements that influence foot comfort and
activation of the lower limb muscles.
Conclusion: Ergonomically designed footwear and the appropriate orthotic interventions increase
comfort and prevent injuries by optimally aligning the feet and improving the functional balance and
muscular functions of the lower limb, for prevention and protection against workplace injuries.
Click to expand...

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

Admin2 Administrator Staff Member

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

The Redundancy of Research on Custom Made vs Prefabricated Foot Orthotics

Custom orthotics v's Prefabricated Orthotics

Custom-Made Foot Orthoses versus Prefabricated foot Orthoses

Influence of custom-made and prefabricated insoles before and after an intense run

Effect of custom-made and prefabricated insoles on plantar loading parameters during running with an

A comparison of customised and prefabricated insoles to reduce risk factors for neuropathic diabetic

Plantar pressure changes with customised and prefabricated orthoses

Share This Page