This study aimed to create 3D-printed insoles for flat-footed senior men using 3D systems. 3D systems are product-manufacturing systems that use 3-dimensional technologies like 3D scanning, 3D modeling, and 3D printing. This study used a 3D scanner (NexScan2), 3D CAD programs including Rapidform, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Nauta+ compiling program, and a 3D printer. In order to create insoles for flat-footed senior men, we analyzed horizontal sections of 3D foot scans We selected 20 flatfooted and 20 normal-footed subjects. To make the 3D insole models, we sliced nine lines on the surface of the subjects’ 3D foot scans, and plotted 144 points on the lines. We calculated the average of these 3D coordinates, then located this average within the 3D space of the AutoCAD program and created 3D sole models using the loft surface tools of the SolidWorks program. The sole models for flat feet differed from those of normal feet in the depth of the arch at the inner sideline and the big toe line. We placed the normal-footed sole model on a flat-footed sole model, and the combination of the two models resulted in the 3D insole for flat feet. We printed the 3D modeled insole using a 3D printer. The 3D printing material was an acrylic resin similar to rubber. This made the insole model flexible and wearable. This study utilized 3D systems to create 3D insoles for flat-footed seniors and this process can be applied to manufacture other items in the fashion industry as well.

Korea has already entered into an aging society. In recent decades, the health problems for seniors has received considerable interest. We often see the elderly who have been struggled from discomfort or illness of the foot. Those foot related problems mainly cause from the use of improper shoes. Recently, shoe makers sell the shoes for seniors, so called comfort shoes, but the shoes are too expensive for seniors to buy easily. In this paper, we develop cheap insoles for seniors as an alternative of the comfort shoes and suggest the systematic process for the insoles development. This systematic process is as follows: 1) Survey the literature about the market of insole, 2) Investigate the standard size of body and foot for the seniors in Korea, 3) Analyze the customer needs by survey, 4) Study the walking pattern by experiments, and 5) Develop the novel insole for the seniors to relieve the inconveniences related with foot. From the newly developed insoles, the company B gains the sales increasing effect approximately 30% over through the increase in consumer satisfaction and company reputation and secures for intellectual property rights. Using the database from Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, the reliability of developing technology of the functional insole has been obtained. The seniors are also enable to choose an alternative of comfort shoes for foot health. In the future, the insoles developed from this study have wide applications in the medical, cosmetic fields, and leisure sports fields. Accordingly, it seems to require more systematic studies utilizing Walk Analyzer and Foot Pressure Meter.

Improvement in functional gait is one of treatment goals in treatment of cerebral palsy children. This study intended to examine the effects of insoles for postural correction on gait in spastic cerebral palsy patients by investigating changes in gait temporal spatial parameters. As the subjects, 15 spastic bilateral cerebral palsy patients participated in this study. Temporal spatial parameters of gait were measured using GAITRite system under three gait conditions. Bare foot gait, gait in shoes, and gait in insoles for postural correction were conducted. In order to look at differences in temporal spatial parameters according to three gait conditions, repeated one way analysis of variance was conducted. As post hoc test, Bonferroni was conducted. A significant level was set at α=.05. According to the result of this study, gait velocity, cadence, step length, stride length of the left lower extremity significantly changed. When the subjects put on customized insoles for postural correction, the effect was greatest. There were no significant changes in stance time, single support time, double support time, swing % of gait, and stance % of cycle. Therefore, gait with insoles for postural correction positively influenced functional gait improvement and will be able to be usefully employed for spastic cerebral palsy children as one of gait assistance devices.

In many manufacturing occupations, industrial workers reported foot or lower leg problems such as discomfort, pain or orthopedic deformities. This study investigated the effects of two different working conditions upon assembly worker's perception of discomfort and foot pain associated with various body parts. Twenty-three male volunteers performed work in the factory. Ergonomic intervention has been to modify the flooring in an attempt to alleviate the problems associated with constrained standing and walking work. The worker's standing conditions consisted of standing on a hard floor while wearing shoe insoles. Questions were asked regarding body discomfort and foot pain. Significant differences in body discomfort and foot pain were found when comparing the overall effects of wearing shoe insoles on a hard floor (p<.05). This investigation indicated that shoe insoles reduced body discomfort and foot pain (p<.05).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of visual information and different elevations of medially wedged insoles on the proprioceptive sense of the knee joint. The subjects of this study were 16 able-bodied men who were not athletic. An electrogoniometer was used to determine the error value between calculated 50% of full flexion (target position) and performed 50% of full flexion in a standing position with the upper extremities crossed. Tests were randomly performed in conditions. Visual variations included open eyes vs. closed eyes, while the elevation was adjusted through the use (or lack thereof) of medially wedged insoles of 10 mm, 14 mm, and 18 mm. The average error value in each condition was statistically analyzed. The findings of this study revealed as follows: 1) The average error value was significantly higher with the subjects' eyes open than with their eyes closed (p<.05). 2) The averaged error value was also significantly higher when the subjects were elevated 18 mm than with no elevation at all (p<.05). The findings of this study should be considered in lower extremity rehabilitation programs when medially wedged insoles used.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the angle of a wedged insole on knee varus torque during walking. Fifteen healthy subjects were recruited. Knee varus torque was measured using three-dimensional motion analysis (Elite). Knee varus torque was normalized to gait cycle (0%: initial contact; 100%: ipsilateral initial contact) and stance phase (0%: initial contact; 100%: ipsilateral toe off). The average peaks of knee varus torque during the stance phase of the gait cycle according to the different insole angles (10 or 15 degrees) were compared using one-way ANOVA with repeated measures. The results showed that in the early stance phase, the average peak knee varus torque increased significantly for both the medial 10 and 15 degree wedged insole conditions and decreased significantly for both the lateral 10 and 15 degree wedged insole conditions as compared with no insole (p<.05). However, there were no significant differences between the 10 and 15 degree wedged insole conditions with either the medial or lateral wedged insole (p>.05). In the late stance phase, the average peak knee varus torque increased significantly for the medial 10 and 15 degree wedged insole conditions (p<.05), but not for the lateral 10 and 15 degree wedged insole conditions as compared with no insole (p>.05). We suggest that these results may be beneficial for manufacturing foot orthotic devices, such as wedged insoles, to control medial and lateral compartment forces in the knee varus-valgus deformity. Further studies of the effects of wedged insole angle on knee varus torque in patients with medial-lateral knee osteoarthritis are needed.