Effect of artificial shock absorbers on heel-strike transients
Wosk, I.; Folman, Y.; Liberty, S.
Harefuah 108(3): 128-130
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-7768 PMID: 4007648 Document Number: 243354
The cyclic impacts induced by heel-strike when walking were studied using force plates with high resonance frequencies and low-mass skin-mounted accelerometers. The data were computer-analyzed. The results showed that during normal human walking the locomotor system is subjected to repetitive shock waves at heel strike of half a body-weight, lastint about five milliseconds and consisting of frequency components of up to and over 100 Hz. Fatigue-failure of the joint tissues exposed to those vertical forces is only a question of time. These highly destructive forces have been shown to be significantly attenuated by the use of artificial shock absorbers, such as visco-elastic soled shoes. This gives hope that a mechanical device may prevent a disturbance of a mechanical nature. Hence, our method may offer a simple and reasonable approach in delaying the onset of crippling degenerative diseases of the locomotor system.