School of Health and Society, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.
J Foot Ankle Res. 2020 Jul 8;13(1):42. doi: 10.1186/s13047-020-00402-2.
Appropriate footwear is important for those who stand for prolonged periods of time at work, enabling them to remain comfortable, healthy and safe. Preferences for different footwear cushioning or hardness are often person specific and one shoe or insole will not be the choice for all. The aim of this study was to develop a range of insole options to maintain comfort during long periods of standing at work and test insole material preferences in the workplace.
The study consisted of two parts. Part one evaluated 9 insoles of the same geometry that varied in hardness under 2 different plantar regions (n = 34). Insole preference, plantar pressure and selected anthropometric foot measures were taken. Three insole designs based on the most preferred options were identified from this part. In part two, these three insoles were evaluated with 22 workers immediately after trying them on (1 min) and after a working day. Foot anthropometric measures and subjective questions concerning material hardness preferences and self-reported foot characteristics were used to investigate whether either had a relationship with insole preference.
Part one found insole preference predominantly varied according to material hardness under the medial arch rather than the heel/forefoot. Softer material under the heel and forefoot was associated with a reduction in peak pressures in these regions (p < 0.05). The most preferred insole had lower pressures under the hallux and first metatarsal phalangeal joint, and greater pressures and contact area under the medial midfoot (p < 0.05) compared to the least preferred insole. Height and foot anthropometrics were related to insole preference. In part two, under real world conditions, insole preference changed for 65% of participants between the immediate assessment (1 min) and after a whole workday, with dorsum height related to the latter (p < 0.05). Subjective questions for self-assessed arch height and footwear feel identified 66.7% of the insole preferences after 1 day at work, compared to 36% using immediate assessment of insole preference.
Preference for material hardness varies underneath the medial arch of the foot and is time dependent. Simple foot measures and questions about comfort can guide selection of preferred insoles.
对于那些需要长时间站立工作的人来说，合适的鞋子非常重要，这可以使他们保持舒适、健康和安全。不同的人对鞋子的缓冲或硬度有不同的偏好，一种鞋子或鞋垫不会适合所有人。本研究的目的是开发一系列鞋垫选择，以在长时间站立工作时保持舒适，并在工作场所测试鞋垫材料偏好。
该研究包括两部分。第一部分评估了 9 种具有相同几何形状但在两个不同足底区域硬度不同的鞋垫（n=34）。测量了鞋垫偏好、足底压力和选定的足部人体测量学指标。从这部分中确定了基于最受欢迎选项的三种鞋垫设计。在第二部分，22 名工人在试穿后立即（1 分钟）和一整天工作后对这三种鞋垫进行了评估。使用足部人体测量学指标和有关材料硬度偏好和自我报告足部特征的主观问题来调查它们是否与鞋垫偏好有关。
第一部分发现，鞋垫偏好主要根据内侧弓下的材料硬度而变化，而不是跟部/前足。跟部和前足下较软的材料与这些区域的峰值压力降低有关（p<0.05）。最受欢迎的鞋垫在大脚趾和第一跖趾关节下的压力较低，而在中足内侧的压力和接触面积较大（p<0.05），与最不受欢迎的鞋垫相比。身高和足部人体测量学与鞋垫偏好有关。在第二部分，在实际工作条件下，65%的参与者在即时评估（1 分钟）和整个工作日后对鞋垫的偏好发生了变化，而跟部高度与后者有关（p<0.05）。关于自我评估的足弓高度和鞋感的主观问题，在一天的工作后，确定了 66.7%的鞋垫偏好，而使用即时评估鞋垫偏好，仅确定了 36%。
对材料硬度的偏好因人而异，并且因时间而异。简单的足部测量和舒适度问题可以指导选择首选鞋垫。
