1 / 23

Improvement of Comfort for Flat-Footed People

Improvement of Comfort for Flat-Footed People. By Semaj Rashad IEGR 360: Ergonomics and Workplace Design Dr. B. Kattel Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering Morgan State University Fall 2011. Agenda. Objectives Methodology Background and Introduction Problem Definition

aure
Download Presentation

Improvement of Comfort for Flat-Footed People

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Improvement of Comfort for Flat-Footed People By Semaj Rashad IEGR 360: Ergonomics and Workplace Design Dr. B. Kattel Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering Morgan State University Fall 2011

  2. Agenda • Objectives • Methodology • Background and Introduction • Problem Definition • Materials • Results and Discussion • Conclusion • References

  3. Objectives • Recognize and see the concepts of applied ergonomics studies in an experiment. • Recognize and see the concepts of aBody Part Discomfort Survey in an experiment. • To practice anthropometric body measurement investigations • To practice the general systems approach to ergonomics

  4. Methodology • Static Anthropometry • Foot Length • Scientific Management Adaptation • Does a problem exist? • Analysis of Problem • Search for Possible Solutions • Evaluate Alternatives • Recommend Solution • Implement solution

  5. Background • Anthropometry – body dimensions and measurements • Static Anthropometry- body measured without motion. • Foot Length – Distance from the back of the heel to tip of longest toe (parallel to the long axis of the foot) • Bio-mechanical Approach – determine forces exerted on musculoskeletal system • Flat-footed or fallen arches - low arch or no arch at all

  6. Introduction • Each foot is an intricate structure: • 26 bones • 33 joints • 107 ligaments • 19 muscles • 2 arches • 31 tendons • 7,000 nerve endings • 125,000 sweat glands • Arch provides elastic, springy connection between the forefoot and the hindfoot. • This relationship ensures that most of the forces incurred during weight bearing can be dissipated before reaching the long bones of the leg and thigh.

  7. Introduction • Without support problems can develop with lower body: knees, hips and lower back • The biomechanical theory is that the arch-support orthotic will provide biomechanical support to the foundation of the body (the feet) • will improve lower-extremity and whole-body alignment/biomechanics.

  8. Problem Definition • Subject A and B, both with fallen arches or flat feet, experience periodic pain in their feet, mostly located around the arch • They have been recommended by doctors to try shoe inserts or insoles • This study seeks to find the shoe insert that is the most comfortable solution

  9. Materials • Compared 5 arch support orthotic (shoe insert) brands • Arch Pro-Tec • Birkenstock Arch Supports • Dr. Rosenberg’s Instant Arches • Sorbothane Ultra Orthotic Arch • Shock Doctor –Ultra 2 Insole • 3 types of shoes used per user

  10. Procedure • Wear each shoe with each arch-support orthotic for 1 full day • Rate the comfort of the arch-support orthotic • On a scale from 1-5 (1: very uncomfortable – 5: very comfortable) • Provide comments • Answer follow-up questions about the experience with each arch-support orthotic

  11. User A • User A Profile • Male, 24, 5’5”, 150 lbs., • Shoe size = 9 men’s

  12. Shoes worn for User A • Shoes: • dress shoe • sneaker (high top) • sneaker (low top)

  13. User B User B Profile: • Female, 24, 5’4”, 130 lbs. • Shoe size = 8.5 women’s

  14. Shoes worn for User B

  15. Arch Support Orthotics Tested • Arch Pro Tec • Birkenstock

  16. Arch Support Orthotics Tested • Dr. Rosenberg • Sorbothane

  17. Arch Support Orthotics Tested • Shock Doctor

  18. Comfort Ratings Table • Raw Data of Comfort Ratings (on a scale of 1-5) • Taken during months of October – November • User performed numerous day-to-day tasks including walking, working, sitting, etc. with the various arch support orthotics

  19. Comfort Ratings Graph

  20. Statistical Analysis • Most favorable based on Combined Average Ratings: • Sorbothane • Shock Doctor • Dr. Rosenberg • Birkenstock • Arch Pro-Tec

  21. Sample Survey Responses From Users User B on Arch Pro-Tec (wearing black boots) • They felt tight around my arch, but I don’t feel like it improved anything. User A on Birkenstock (wearing dress shoes) • mild comfort, felt tight in the shoe (not enough room) User B on Dr. Rosenberg’s (wearing black boots) • I could feel them under my arch which felt akward and made my foot hurt after a while. I had to remove them before the end of the day User A on Sorbothane (wearing black low top sneakers) • Eomfortable, barely noticed they were there…no discomfort at any period of the day. User B on Shock Doctor (sneakers) • Entire foot felt great…I recommend only wearing in sneakers

  22. Conclusions and Recommendations • Based on the surveys and experimental analysis Sorbothane Ultra Orthotic Arches are recommended for users with fallen arches or flat feet. • Received the highest average comfort ratings for various types of shoes • Applicable to various industries: • Manufacturing where one may be standing for an extended period • U.S. Army where walking for an extended period of time has kept flat footed individuals out in some cases

  23. References • Flat Feet - NHS Choices. (n.d.). NHS Choices. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flatfeet/Pages/Introduction.aspx • Flat Feet - Symptoms. (2010, April 2). NHS Choices. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/flatfeet/Pages/Symptomspage.aspx • Foot Facts. (2008). Synergy Massaging Insoles. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.synergymedicalproducts.com/Facts.html • Franco, A. H. (n.d.). PesCavus and PesPlanus : Analyses and Treatment. Journal of American Physical Therapy Association. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.physther.net/content/67/5/688.full.pdf+html • Kavros, S. J., Van Straaten, M. G., Coleman Wood, K. A., & Kaufman, K. R. (2011, March 16). Forefoot plantar pressure reduction of off-the-shelf rocker bottom provisional footwear. Clinical Biomechanics. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/science?_ob=MiamiImageURL • Kelaher, D., Mirka, G. A., & Dudziak, K. Q. (2000). Effects of semi-rigid arch-support orthotics: an investigation with potential ergonomic implications. Applied Ergonomics, 31, 515-522. • Nigg, B. M., Nurse, M. A., & Stefanyshyn, D. J. (1999). Shoe inserts and orthotics for sport and physical activities : Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Medicine Science in Sports Exercise. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/1999/07001/Shoe_inserts_and_orthotics_for_sport_and_physical.3.aspx

More Related