RELATION BETWEEN FOORTWEAR AND WALKING

Abstract

 Walking is our most frequent means of transport which allows man to move from one place to another in a vertical position without becoming too tired. In this raised position, human beings walk forwards and each leg will alternatively support the weight of the body while the other leg also
alternatively, is balanced and prepared for the following supporting position.
 When walking we have:
— An oscillation phase: when the foot is in the air.
— A support phase: when the foot is in contact with the ground.
— A unipodal or monopodal phase of support: when only one foot has contact with the ground.
 A bipodal phase of support: when both feet are in contact with the ground.
 The number of impacts per kilometre walked is somewhere between 1.000 and 1.300 which can give us some idea of the amount of traumatisms that are accumulated.
 The fat located under the heel is anisotropic and the best brands of sport footwear do their best to imitate the absorbing qualities of this fat. On the bipedestation, high heels cause an increase of the external rotation and of the plantar FX of the foot and this could be the origin of many lumbar problems. About the kinematics of walking, the length of step and the walking speed diminish with the increase of the height in the heel. Nevertheless, the total duration of the walking cycle does not change.
his instability in the foot makes it more likely to suffer from sprains or fractures in the ankle, spine, and in the joints of MMII, although short term injuries do not occur, the long-term effects would be a premature deterioration of the spine and MMII.
 Footwear greatly influences in the damping capacity while walking. In this way the impact of the inferior member against the ground causes a shock wave that is reflected with a reaction force and is transmitted through the skeleton to the head.