title: The shock-absorbing effect of soles and insoles.
abstract: The capacity of heel inserts of different plastic and rubber materials to attenuate heel-strike forces was analysed. The heel-strike response was recorded by accelerometers fastened on to the skin. Thirteen rheumatoid patients with a knee arthroplasty and five healthy controls were tested. Inlay material of 6 mm thickness did not significantly reduce the tibial deceleration produced by heel-strike. However, shoes with heels of polyurethane plastic of 20 mm thickness significantly lowered the amplitude of the tibial response compared with rubber-heeled shoes. The possible implications of this for patients with degenerative joint diseases or with joint implants is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rööser
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ekbladh
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lidgren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003654:Deceleration; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006244:Hardness; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012408:Rubber; D012775:Shoes
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes; D012408:Rubber