Open AccessEffects of Metatarsal Work Boots on Gait During Level and Inclined Walking
Author(s) -
Lydia Kocher,
Jonisha Pollard,
Ashley Whitson,
Mahiyar Nasarwanji
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of applied biomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1543-2688
pISSN - 1065-8483
DOI - 10.1123/jab.2019-0338
Subject(s) - gait , ankle , descent (aeronautics) , tripping , ground reaction force , work (physics) , range of motion , physical medicine and rehabilitation , stride , engineering , kinematics , physical therapy , medicine , anatomy , mechanical engineering , physics , circuit breaker , electrical engineering , classical mechanics , aerospace engineering
Footwear plays an important role in worker safety. Work boots with safety toes are often utilized at mine sites to protect workers from hazards. Increasingly, mining operations require metatarsal guards in addition to safety toe protection in boots. While these guards provide additional protection, the impact of metatarsal guards on gait are unknown. This study aimed to measure the effects of 4 safety work boots, steel toe, and steel toe with metatarsal protection in wader- and hiker-style boots, on level and inclined walking gait characteristics, during ascent and descent. A total of 10 participants completed this study. A motion capture system measured kinematics that allowed for the calculation of key gait parameters. Results indicated that gait parameters changed due to incline, similar to previous literature. Wader-style work boots reduced ankle range of motion when ascending an incline. Hip, knee, and ankle ranges of motion were also reduced during descent for this style of boot. Wader-style boots with metatarsal guards led to the smallest ankle range of motion when descending an inclined walkway. From these results, it is likely that boot style affects gait parameters and may impact a miner's risk for slips, trips, or falls.