Dynamic balance is the maintenance of the center of gravity (COG) within the BOS under disturbed conditions (Hosoda et al. 1997). Balance: the ability to maintain the center of gravity within the limits of the base of support to strengthen equilibrium (Horak 1987); is also controlled by the foot position (Kincl et al. 2002). Balance can be defined as maintaining the body's center of gravity within the base of support (Winter 1995).
The soles of the feet have also been defined as primary “antennae” for sensory input (Hosoda et al. 1997). Static balance is the maintenance of the COG in the BOS under undisturbed conditions with minimal postural sway. Dynamic balance is the maintenance of the COG within the BOS under perturbed conditions, and it is seen as a predominant function in locomotion (Hosoda et al. 1997).
The stepping strategy is to step outside the support surface to prevent falling (Winter 1995). The Equitest system is one of NeuroCom's products that can objectively measure dynamic standing balance. The EquiTest measures and determines the results of the SOT and the MCT (Hosoda et al. 1997).
Material in shoe soles and shoe fixation of the ankle joints has prevented the transmission of afferent information, resulting in reduced reaction force and speed (Hosoda et al. 1997). This general extra stability in the military boots may be due to the greater weight, extra cushioning, snug fit or low heel of the boots (Majumdar et al. 2006). The lower the mass of the boot, the less workload and fatigue, resulting in better balance (Garner et al. 2013).
METHODSMETHODS
The NeuroCom Equitest Posture Platform was used to assess dynamic balance in the Applied Biomechanics Laboratory at the University of Mississippi Turner Center (Division of Exercise Science). The system uses an 18” x 18” dynamic dual force plate, which has forward and reverse translation capabilities. This plate measures the vertical forces exerted by the participant's feet, as well as the latency time between the movement of the plate and the postural recovery response.
Two conditions were used to tap translation skills, which include forward [medium (FWM)/large (FWL)] and backward translations. Work boots (WB), tactical boots (TB), slip-resistant flats (LT) and the barefoot control group. The WB is equipped with oil-resistant soles, a raised boot shaft with special heels and metatarsal guards or steel toes to protect the toe from impact and compression injuries.
The WB meets the footwear safety and protection standards ANSI-Z41-1991 of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) regulations. Upon the arrival of a suitable participant, a member of the research team described the full purpose of the study and explained the importance of maintaining completely natural behavior throughout the experiment. The footwear order was randomly selected and dynamic balance was tested for four conditions.
Participants were asked to stand as still as possible on the NeuroCom for balance testing. After completing each footwear condition, participants were required to sit with footwear removed for a 10-minute wash period. This was repeated for each footwear condition, which were the three shoes previously explained with bare feet as a control group.
Latency values ​​were assessed from the MCT using a 1 x 4 [Test Session x Footwear Condition (BF v. LT v. TB v. WB)] repeated measures analyzes of variance. Post hoc pairwise comparisons determined the differences between footwear conditions with Bonferroni corrections, while significance was set at an alpha level of p=0.05.
RESULTS
Backward Translations
DISCUSSION
Footwear productivity is responsible for a successful transformation of the mechanical power output, which is produced by the musculoskeletal system (Cikajlo, Matjačić 2007). The barefoot condition has lower latency responses due to the proprioceptive system having sensory receptors on the bottom of the foot. Feet function as receptors, and the sole of the foot is one of the most sensitive places on the human body.
There are mechanoreceptors and nerve endings here that are aware of dynamic changes in the receptors (Hosoda et al. 1998). It has been shown that speed and reaction force are reduced when fixation of the ankle joints by shoes, thus impairing the transmission of afferent information (Hosoda et al. 1997). These shoes used in the vocational sector were compared while standing and walking on firm surfaces for extended periods of time.
The increased height of the boot shaft demonstrated additional balance in WB and TB compared to LT in this study (Chander, Garner & Wade 2013). Differences in findings for the increased boot shaft height between these similar footwear may be due. The lower the mass of the boot, the less the workload and fatigue, resulting in increased balance (Chander, Garner & Wade 2013).
Greater mass added on the distal end of the handle uses more energy than a smaller mass of footwear (Garner et al. 2013, Chander, Garner & Wade 2013). One study compared military boots to barefoot walking and found that stride and stride lengths, single support time, and swing phase increased with the increased mass of the work boots. This extra stability is possibly the result of the greater mass of the military boot.
Midsole stiffness was not measured in the current study, but it is an important feature of balance maintenance in footwear. When wearing soft-soled shoes, both groups showed a greater lateral center of mass-base of support margin. Chronic conditions of balance performance have been studied over longer periods under static electricity.
These results can help determine appropriate footwear for workers in industrial and occupational settings, as well as design new occupational footwear to improve postural stability. The effect of different types and materials of shoes, as well as the fixation of joints by means of shoes, on the control of upright posture.
