title: Development of inexpensive prosthetic feet for high-heeled shoes using simple shoe insole model.
abstract: The large majority of prosthetic feet are aimed at low-heeled shoes, with a few models allowing a heel height of up to 5 cm. However, a survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association indicates that most women wear heels over 5 cm; thus, current prosthetic feet limit most female prosthesis users in their choice. Some prosthetic foot components are heel-height adjustable; however, their plantar surface shapes do not change to match the insole shapes of the shoes with different heel heights. The aims of the study were therefore (1) to develop a model that allows prediction of insole shape for various heel height shoes in combination with different shoe sizes and (2) to develop and field-test low-cost prototypes of prosthetic feet whose insole shapes were based on the new model. An equation was developed to calculate insole shapes independent of shoe size. Field testing of prototype prosthetic feet fabricated based on the equation was successful and demonstrated the utility of the equation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Therapy and Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Postboks 4 St Olavs Plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway. Margrit-R.Meier@hioa.no.
authors.forename: Margrit R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Kerice A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Andrew H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000191:economics; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D061826:Foot Orthoses; D005545:Forefoot, Human; D006365:Heel; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000379:methods*; D012775:Shoes; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: development; equation; feet; heel height; high 
  heels; prosthetic feet; prototype; roll-over shape; shoe insole 
  model; shoes