Exploration of Textile-Silicone Composites and Materials for Personal Impact-Resistant Protection.

Conventional cushioning materials such as silicone sheets which have been recommended for resisting impact generally cause discomfort to the wearer from heat and perspiration. With the increasing need for personal protective equipment, textile-silicone composite structures are proposed in this study to reduce acute impact and moisture while enhancing thermal comfort. The influence of the composite structure and thickness on the mechanical and thermal properties of textile-silicone materials are systematically investigated.

Influence of Contoured Insoles with Different Materials on Kinematics and Kinetics Changes in Diabetic Elderly during Gait.

Background: Alterations in the lower limb kinematics and kinetics of diabetic patients have been reported in previous studies. Inappropriate choices of orthopedic insole materials, however, fail to prevent diabetic foot ulcers and modify abnormal gait. The aim of this study was to quantitatively compare the effects of contoured insoles with different materials on the kinematics of and kinetics changes in the diabetic elderly during gait.

Effects of contoured insoles with different materials on plantar pressure offloading in diabetic elderly during gait.

To investigate the effect of contoured insoles constructed of different insole materials, including Nora Lunalastik EVA, Nora Lunalight A fresh, Pe-Lite, and PORON Medical 4708 with Langer Biomechanics longitudinal PPT arch pads on offloading plantar pressure on the foot of the elderly with Type 1 or 2 diabetes during gait. Twenty-two elderly with Type 1 or 2 diabetes participated in the study. Their plantar pressure was measured by using an insole measurement system, while the participants walked 10 m in their bare feet or used each experimental insole in random order.

Influence of Upper Footwear Material Properties on Foot Skin Temperature, Humidity and Perceived Comfort of Older Individuals.

Studying the in-shoe microclimate of older individuals is important for enhancing their foot comfort and preventing foot diseases. However, there is a lack of scientific work that explores the thermo-physiological wear comfort of older individuals with different footwear. This study aims to examine the effects of upper footwear materials on changes and distributions in the foot skin temperature and relative humidity for older individuals.

Foot deformation analysis with different load-bearing conditions to enhance diabetic footwear designs.

In-depth analyses of foot surface measurements upon weight bearing are crucial to understand how the dorsal and plantar surfaces of the foot deform during motion to enhance the fit of footwear, which is particularly important for diabetic patients with stringent fit requirements to redistribute the plantar weight forces. This study analyzes diabetic foot deformations under 3 different weight bearing conditions (no weight bearing, half weight bearing, and 80% weight bearing) by using a novel foot scanning method that enables efficient scanning of the dorsal and plantar surfaces of the foot simultaneously. The feet of 48 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are scanned.

Effect of Contacting Surface on the Performance of Thin-Film Force and Pressure Sensors.

Flexible force and pressure sensors are important for assessing the wear comfort of tightly fitting apparel. Their accuracy and repeatability depend on the sensor itself and the contacting surface. Measurements of the contact pressure on soft surfaces like human skin tend to be erroneous, which could be due to incorrect sensor calibrations.

Influence of Textured Indoor Footwear on Posture Stability of Older Women Based on Center-of-Pressure Measurements.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of indoor footwear with a textured surface to improve control of balance and reduce excessive plantar pressure in older women.

Background: Balance instability is a common condition in older people. Textured insoles with protrusions on the entire insole have been examined for enhancing somatosensory feedback in the elderly to improve control over balance.