2017 Volume 55 Issue 6 Pages 245-251
The plantar aponeurosis extends from the calcaneus in the shape of a fan toward the five heads of the metatarsals, and plays an important role in the stability and shock absorbing capacity of the foot. We speculated that the “viscoelastic socks” absorb instantaneous impact owing to their viscoelasticity and thus reduce the load on the plantar aponeurosis. The purpose of this study was to verify this load reduction through quantitative measurement of the dynamic changes of the medial longitudinal arch structure of the foot during gait. Eleven healthy male adults (age, 22.1±1.1 years) participated in the study. Experiments were conducted under conditions of wearing and not wearing the viscoelastic socks to clarify the structural changes in the longitudinal arch during gait using a strain gauge attached to the first tarsometatarsal joint of the right foot. The results of 9 subjects demonstrated a tendency that wearing the viscoelastic socks reduced the changes in the medial longitudinal arch during the timing from heel contact to toe contact and from heel off to toe off. These findings suggest that compared with the conventional socks, the viscoelastic socks may reduce the changes of the arch during gait and mitigate the mechanical burden on the plantar aponeurosis.
