3D-Printed Customized Arch-Support Insoles Improve Gait Mechanics and Ankle Alignment in Young Adults with Functional Flat Foot During Uphill Walking
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Weight-bearing activities exacerbate pain and fatigue in functional flat foot, with uphill walking presenting additional challenges due to increased external loads. The current study investigates whether 3D-printed customized arch-support insoles can enh...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/2/281 |
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| author | Sanghee Park Jin-Hwa Jung Shi Lei Eui-Young Jung Hwi-Young Cho |
| author_facet | Sanghee Park Jin-Hwa Jung Shi Lei Eui-Young Jung Hwi-Young Cho |
| author_sort | Sanghee Park |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Weight-bearing activities exacerbate pain and fatigue in functional flat foot, with uphill walking presenting additional challenges due to increased external loads. The current study investigates whether 3D-printed customized arch-support insoles can enhance gait variables and ankle alignment during uphill walking. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Twenty healthy young adults, divided into two groups (normal foot condition (control, <i>n</i> = 10), functional flat foot (FF, <i>n</i> = 10)), walked on a treadmill at a 10% incline under two conditions: wearing shoes alone (shoe) or wearing shoes with 3D-printed customized arch-support insoles (SI). Gait pattern, center of force (COF), and ankle joint angles were analyzed by OptoGait, Tekscan, and Kinovea, respectively. <i>Results</i>: The foot flat phase of the gait pattern was prolonged in individuals with FF compared to the control under both shoe and SI conditions, whereas the propulsive phase was shortened with the SI. Medial deviation of the COF during the propulsive phase, observed in individuals with FF under the shoe condition, was corrected to a more lateral alignment with the SI, resembling the COF alignment of the control. Additionally, individuals with FF under the shoe condition exhibited increased ankle pronation compared to the control, whereas the SI moderated pronation, achieving alignment closer to that of the control. <i>Conclusions</i>: These findings indicate that the 3D-printed customized arch-support insoles can improve gait mechanics and ankle alignment in individuals with FF, particularly under challenging conditions such as uphill walking. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5fa331105c9042c99ca7a176c173fa0a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj-art-5fa331105c9042c99ca7a176c173fa0a2025-08-20T02:04:06ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-02-0161228110.3390/medicina610202813D-Printed Customized Arch-Support Insoles Improve Gait Mechanics and Ankle Alignment in Young Adults with Functional Flat Foot During Uphill WalkingSanghee Park0Jin-Hwa Jung1Shi Lei2Eui-Young Jung3Hwi-Young Cho4Department of Exercise Rehabilitation, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Semyung University, Jecheon 27136, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of Korea<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Weight-bearing activities exacerbate pain and fatigue in functional flat foot, with uphill walking presenting additional challenges due to increased external loads. The current study investigates whether 3D-printed customized arch-support insoles can enhance gait variables and ankle alignment during uphill walking. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Twenty healthy young adults, divided into two groups (normal foot condition (control, <i>n</i> = 10), functional flat foot (FF, <i>n</i> = 10)), walked on a treadmill at a 10% incline under two conditions: wearing shoes alone (shoe) or wearing shoes with 3D-printed customized arch-support insoles (SI). Gait pattern, center of force (COF), and ankle joint angles were analyzed by OptoGait, Tekscan, and Kinovea, respectively. <i>Results</i>: The foot flat phase of the gait pattern was prolonged in individuals with FF compared to the control under both shoe and SI conditions, whereas the propulsive phase was shortened with the SI. Medial deviation of the COF during the propulsive phase, observed in individuals with FF under the shoe condition, was corrected to a more lateral alignment with the SI, resembling the COF alignment of the control. Additionally, individuals with FF under the shoe condition exhibited increased ankle pronation compared to the control, whereas the SI moderated pronation, achieving alignment closer to that of the control. <i>Conclusions</i>: These findings indicate that the 3D-printed customized arch-support insoles can improve gait mechanics and ankle alignment in individuals with FF, particularly under challenging conditions such as uphill walking.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/2/281functional pes planusflat foot3D-printed insolepropulsive phaseuphill walking |
| spellingShingle | Sanghee Park Jin-Hwa Jung Shi Lei Eui-Young Jung Hwi-Young Cho 3D-Printed Customized Arch-Support Insoles Improve Gait Mechanics and Ankle Alignment in Young Adults with Functional Flat Foot During Uphill Walking Medicina functional pes planus flat foot 3D-printed insole propulsive phase uphill walking |
| title | 3D-Printed Customized Arch-Support Insoles Improve Gait Mechanics and Ankle Alignment in Young Adults with Functional Flat Foot During Uphill Walking |
| title_full | 3D-Printed Customized Arch-Support Insoles Improve Gait Mechanics and Ankle Alignment in Young Adults with Functional Flat Foot During Uphill Walking |
| title_fullStr | 3D-Printed Customized Arch-Support Insoles Improve Gait Mechanics and Ankle Alignment in Young Adults with Functional Flat Foot During Uphill Walking |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D-Printed Customized Arch-Support Insoles Improve Gait Mechanics and Ankle Alignment in Young Adults with Functional Flat Foot During Uphill Walking |
| title_short | 3D-Printed Customized Arch-Support Insoles Improve Gait Mechanics and Ankle Alignment in Young Adults with Functional Flat Foot During Uphill Walking |
| title_sort | 3d printed customized arch support insoles improve gait mechanics and ankle alignment in young adults with functional flat foot during uphill walking |
| topic | functional pes planus flat foot 3D-printed insole propulsive phase uphill walking |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/2/281 |
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