Midfoot Shape when Standing on Soft and Hard Footbeds

Abstract

In this study, the plantar shape of the midfoot was determined when the participants were standing on three different surfaces. Foot impression castings of sixteen participants were made when they were standing on a custom-made device. These castings were laser scanned in order to quantify the shape differences. The results showed that, when the amount of cushioning on the support surface was changed, the plantar mid-foot sag changed by 5.0 mm. The results have important implications for footwear design as midfoot shapes in footwear are somewhat standardized and are not adjusted to account for the cushioning properties of the footbed. The mismatched deformations between feet and shoes as a result of design, structure and material used in the heel and forefoot regions of shoes can contribute to unwanted strain on the plantar fascia of the human foot.