Dataset Information

Effect of the upward curvature of toe springs on walking biomechanics in humans.

ABSTRACT: Although most features of modern footwear have been intensively studied, there has been almost no research on the effects of toe springs. This nearly ubiquitous upward curvature of the sole at the front of the shoe elevates the toe box dorsally above the ground and thereby holds the toes in a constantly dorsiflexed position. While it is generally recognized that toe springs facilitate the forefoot's ability to roll forward at the end of stance, toe springs may also have some effect on natural foot function. This study investigated the effects of toe springs on foot biomechanics in a controlled experiment in which participants walked in specially-designed sandals with varying curvature in the toe region to simulate toe springs ranging from 10 to 40 degrees of curvature. Using inverse dynamics techniques, we found that toe springs alter the joint moments and work at the toes such that greater degrees of toe spring curvature resulted in lower work requirements during walking. Our results help explain why toe springs have been a pervasive feature in shoes for centuries but also suggest that toe springs may contribute to weakening of the foot muscles and possibly to increased susceptibility to common pathological conditions such as plantar fasciitis.

SUBMITTER: Sichting F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7499201 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Effect of the upward curvature of toe springs on walking biomechanics in humans.

Sichting Freddy F Holowka Nicholas B NB Hansen Oliver B OB Lieberman Daniel E DE

Scientific reports 20200917 1

Although most features of modern footwear have been intensively studied, there has been almost no research on the effects of toe springs. This nearly ubiquitous upward curvature of the sole at the front of the shoe elevates the toe box dorsally above the ground and thereby holds the toes in a constantly dorsiflexed position. While it is generally recognized that toe springs facilitate the forefoot's ability to roll forward at the end of stance, toe springs may also have some effect on natural fo ...[more]

PMID: 32943665

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Project description:During typical human walking, the metatarsophalangeal joints undergo extension/flexion, which we term toe joint articulation. This toe joint articulation impacts locomotor performance, as evidenced by prior studies on prostheses, footwear, sports and humanoid robots. However, a knowledge gap exists in our understanding of how individual toe properties (e.g. shape, joint stiffness) affect bipedal locomotion. To address this gap, we designed and built a pair of adjustable foot prostheses that enabled us to independently vary different toe properties, across a broad range of physiological and non-physiological values. We then characterized the effects of varying toe joint stiffness across a range of different ankle joint stiffness conditions, and the effects of varying toe shape on walking biomechanics. Ten able-bodied individuals walked on a treadmill with prostheses mounted bilaterally underneath simulator boots (which immobilized their biological ankles). We collected motion capture and ground reaction force data, then computed joint kinematics and kinetics, and center-of-mass (COM) power and work. To our surprise, we found that varying toe joint stiffness affected COM Push-off dynamics during walking as much as, or in some cases even more than, varying ankle joint stiffness. Increasing toe joint stiffness increased COM Push-off work by up to 48% (6 J), and prosthetic anklefoot Push-off work by up to 181% (12 J). In contrast, large changes in toe shape had little effect on gait. This study brings attention to the toes, an aspect of prosthetic and robotic foot design that is often overlooked or overshadowed by design of the ankle. Optimizing toe joint stiffness in assistive and robotic devices (e.g. prostheses, exoskeletons, robot feet) may provide a complementary means of enhancing Push-off or other aspects of locomotor performance, in conjunction with the more conventional approach of augmenting ankle dynamics. Future studies are needed to isolate the effects of additional toe properties (e.g. toe length).

Dataset Information

Effect of the upward curvature of toe springs on walking biomechanics in humans.

Publications

Effect of the upward curvature of toe springs on walking biomechanics in humans.

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