Gait characteristics when walking with rounded soft sole shoes.

This study aimed to examine the effect of shoes with a rounded soft sole (Stretch Walker: SW) on gait. Fifteen healthy male (mean age: 23.2) walked under three conditions (SW, Flat-bottomed Shoe: FS, Barefoot: BF). Including walking speed, stance time, step length were selected as temporal-spatial parameters. The angle of hip, knee, and ankle joints during particular phases were selected as kinematic parameters. Walking speed, stance time, step length and flexion angle of the ankle joint at initial contact were greater when wearing either shoe than walking BF; cadence was faster walking BF than wearing either shoe; double support time increased (FS>SW>BF); step width was greater (FS>SW>BF); walking angle was greater wearing the SW than wearing the FS and walking BF; and range of motion and maximum flexion angle of the hip and knee joints were greater wearing the FS than walking BF. In conclusion, wearing the SW with a heel-to-toe rocker and soft sole changes the double support time, step width, and walking angle and increases step length and walking speed compared to walking BF. The difference of the range of motion in hip and knee joints was larger between walking BF and wearing the FS than between walking BF and wearing the SW.