2015 Volume 30 Issue 3 Pages 375-378
[Purpose] To examine the loading dynamics of the heel and forefoot during stair walking and slope walking. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen healthy women with no history of orthopedic disease wore a shoe-type foot pressure measurement device and walked up and down stairs, and up and down a slope. The loads on the heel and forefoot and the time elapsed after heel contact were recorded for each condition. [Results] On the vertical ground reaction force loading curve of stair walking, the maximum forefoot value seen in the curve for walking on a flat surface was not observed during the loading response phase. The curve for ramp walking was similar to that for walking on a flat surface. [Conclusions] During stair walking, the forefoot reaches peak load earlier than the heel during the loading response phase. This probably occurs to smooth minimize vertical shift of the center of gravity when the body is raised and lowered.
