Impact of occupational footwear during simulated workloads on energy expenditure

What's the Impact of Safety Footwear on Workers Concerning Foot-Related Problems? A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

This study aims to assess the impact of safety footwear (SF) on workers concerning foot-related problems, especially regarding discomfort, foot pain, and skin lesions.

METHODS

A literature search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting foot-related problems in workers wearing SF were included. Exclusion criteria included non-English papers, reviews, laboratory and animal studies, expert opinions, letters to the editor, and grey literature. The quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Descriptive statistic was used to present data.

RESULT

The initial search results yielded 483 articles; 7 articles were included in the review process. Despite the extensive variety of SF, all studies consistently reported symptomatic discomfort and pain. The discomfort factors included heat, sweating, heaviness, and footwear flexibility, with primary issues in the toes, toecaps, or metatarsal-toe crease region. The pain prevalence ranged from 42.3% to 60.8% in various anatomical regions. Irritant Contact Dermatitis was the most common (97.9%) foot dermatosis, but other foot lesions were reported: dry skin (30.2%), calluses (30%), hard nails (28%), corns (27%), and blisters.

CONCLUSIONS

Current SFs are designed to comply with safety regulations but are influenced by the frequent occurrence of discomfort and foot problems. The literature review identified weaknesses in certain design features. Recommendations have been proposed to improve SF development. These include addressing issues such as the selection of specific types and designs of SF based on task performance and the working environment, footwear weight, and breathable materials for moisture permeation. Considerations should also encompass distinct sizing for an optimal fit, insole application, especially for prolonged standing users, and education programs to prevent foot-related issues.

Safety Footwear Impact on Workers' Gait and Foot Problems: A Comparative Study

BACKGROUND

In this study, we hypothesized that safety footwear (SF) impacts gait patterns, potentially contributing to the podiatric symptoms reported by workers. The purpose of this work was to compare the gait analyses of workers wearing SF and sneakers using inertial sensors while also examining the occurrence of foot problems.

METHODS

A consecutive cohort of workers from different occupational sectors who wore SF during their work shifts were prospectively assessed through a gait analysis. The gait analysis was conducted under two conditions: first, while wearing SF, and second, while wearing sneakers. In both conditions, inertial sensors were used (Wiva® MOB). Participants also underwent a podiatric physical examination to evaluate foot problems.

RESULTS

This study shows that SF resulted in a worsening gait pattern compared to sneakers in both genders. The impact was particularly pronounced in female participants, resulting in a significant decline in walking speed and cadence. Discomfort was reported by 83.3% of participants, with a higher prevalence in females (46.6% vs. 36.6%). The SF group exhibited an elevated prevalence of foot problems, with no significant gender variations. It seems that foot problems are more likely to occur when a foot deformity, such as flat or cavus foot or hallux valgus, is present.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that SF may contribute to the reported podiatric symptoms among workers. Certain footwear characteristics, including weight, mis-fit, and inadequate design, may be factors associated with footwear discomfort and adverse gait patterns, potentially leading to increased foot problems among workers.

Identifying lower limb problems and the types of safety footwear worn in the Australian wine industry: a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

The Australian wine industry is a valuable part of the wider Australian economy worth approximately A$45 billion annually and employs 163,790 people either full time or part time. Australian agricultural industries are amongst the nation's most dangerous workplaces with joint, ligament, muscle and tendon injuries being commonplace along with wounds, lacerations and musculoskeletal diseases. It is therefore important to try and minimise the risk of injuries to workers. The aims of this study were to (1) identify whether lower limb problems occur in the Australian wine industry and (2) identify the types of safety footwear worn.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from the Australian wine industry. The study was a cross-sectional anonymous survey of 82 questions with n = 207 respondents. Questions related to job role performed, types of lower limb problems experienced, level of pain, restriction of activities, types of footwear worn, general health and physical health.

RESULTS

The main working roles were winery (73.4%), vineyard (52.2%), laboratory (39.6%), cellar door (32.4%) and office (8.2%), with 63.3% of participants working in more than one role. Lower back pain was the most commonly reported problem at 56% followed by foot pain (36.7%), knee pain (24.6%), leg pain (21.3%), ankle pain (17.9%), hip pain (15.5%), toe pain (13%) and heel pain (11.1%). The most popular footwear used by participants were elastic sided safety boots, followed by high cut lace up safety boots with side zip. Overall, although the pain experienced was moderate, it did not impact the workers ability to perform their duties and the majority self-reported as being in very good general and physical health.

CONCLUSION

To date no data have been published on the types of lower limb problems or the types of safety footwear worn in the Australian wine industry. This study is the first to demonstrate that elastic sided safety boots were the most popular amongst respondents and that lower limb problems occur with workers. Therefore, further research into the safety footwear used in the Australian wine industry is needed to better support workers health while working in their varied roles and conditions.

Shorter work boot shaft height improves ankle range of motion and decreases the oxygen cost of work

Work boots featuring design elements implemented to protect the foot and lower limb are common in many industries. However, boot design can have negative unintended consequences such as increases in work related fatigue and injury risk. This study compared joint kinematics and the physiological cost of two commercially available steel-toed work boots with different shaft designs worn throughout a simulated work task. A boot with a lower-cut and scalloped shaft allowed greater sagittal plane range of motion at the ankle joint compared to a boot with a higher-cut straight shaft, particularly in the late stance phase of the gait cycle. This was coupled with a decreased physiological cost of treadmill walking (2.6 and 3.1% improvement in oxygen consumption and walking economy, respectively), likely caused by a more efficient gait pattern. A lower-cut and scalloped shaft could lead to decreases in work-related fatigue and the subsequent risk of injuries in workers. Practitioner summary: Gait kinematics and the physiological cost of work boots with different shaft heights has not previously been investigated. A randomised cross-over study design found that a boot with a lower shaft height and scalloped collar improved ankle range of motion and reduced the physiological cost experienced by the wearers. Abbreviations: ROM: range of motion; FS: full shaft; SS: scalloped shaft; COM: centre of mass; HR: heart rate; RPE: rating of perceived exertion; ES: effect size.

Muscle Activity during Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Load Carriage

Decrements to postural control manifest as an increase in muscle activity, indicating continuous attempts to maintain body equilibrium and postural stability. Extrinsic factors such as footwear, and intrinsic factors such as muscle fatigue, can affect postural stability. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of two types of military footwear and a military-type load-carrying task on lower extremity muscle activity during various postural stability tasks. Sixteen males’ (age: 26.63 ± 3.93 years; mass: 87 ± 12.4 kg; height: 178.04 ± 6.2 cm) muscle activity from knee flexors, extensors, ankle dorsiflexors, and plantar flexors were measured using electromyography in standard (STD) and minimalist (MIN) military footwear, before (PRE) and after (POST) a simulated workload during sensory organization and motor control tests on the Neurocom EquitestTM. Mean muscle activity was analyzed using 2 (footwear) × 2 (time) repeated measures ANOVA with an alpha level of 0.05. Results revealed a requirement of significantly greater muscle activity in POST and STD. MIN demonstrated lesser balance decrements POST workload, which could be attributed to its design characteristics. Results will help in suggesting footwear design characteristics to minimize muscular exertion while eliciting better postural control, and to prevent postural instability due to overexertion in military personnel.

Using Electroencephalography (EEG) Power Responses to Investigate the Effects of Ambient Oxygen Content, Safety Shoe Type, and Lifting Frequency on the Worker's Activities

Objective

The study assesses the changes in electroencephalography (EEG) power spectral density of individuals in hypoxia when wearing a different type of safety shoes under different lifting frequencies. It also assesses the EEG response behavior induced via the process of lifting loads related to these variables.

Methods

The study was conducted in two consecutive phases: training and acclimatization phase and experimental lifting phase. Ten male college students participated in this study. A four-way repeated measures design was used in this research with independent variables: ambient oxygen content (“15%, 18%, and 20%”), safety shoes type (“light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty”), lifting frequency (“1 and 4 lifts/min”), and replication (“first and second”). And the dependent variables were alpha, theta, beta, gamma, θ/α, θ/β, α/β, β/α, (θ + α)/β, and (θ + α)/(α + β). The participant was allowed to determine his maximum acceptable weight of lift (MAWL) in fifteen minutes of lifting using psychophysically technique. Then, he continued lifting the MAWL for another five minutes, where all the data were collected.

Results

Results showed that the EEG responses at lower levels of the independent variables were significantly high than at higher levels; except for oxygen content, the EEG responses at lower levels were considerably lower than at a higher level. It also showed that an upsurge in the physical demand increased lifting frequency and replication and caused decreasing in alpha power, theta/beta, alpha/beta, (theta + alpha)/beta, (theta + alpha)/(alpha + beta) and increasing in the theta power and the gamma power. Furthermore, several interactions among independent variables had significant effects on the EEG responses.

Conclusion

The EEG implementation for the investigation of neural responses to physical demands allows for the possibility of newer nontraditional and faster methods of human performance monitoring. These methods provide effective and reliable results as compared to other traditional methods. This study will safeguard the physical capabilities and possible health risks of industrial workers. And the applications of these tasks can occur in almost all working environments (factories, warehouses, airports, building sites, farms, hospitals, offices, etc.) that are at high altitudes. It can include lifting boxes at a packaging line, handling construction materials, handling patients in hospitals, and cleaning.

Does Minimalist Footwear Design Aid in Postural Stability and Fall Prevention in Ergonomics?

The purpose of the article is to identify if novel footwear design could aid in postural stability and fall prevention in workplace. Footwear design has been reported to aid the task of maintaining postural stability or balancing in an erect stance while minimizing risk of falls. Minimalistic footwear that has design features such as low mass, lower heel height, and thin midsole can positively influence postural stability. Minimalistic military footwear has been shown to lower incidences of falls with efficient muscular effort. Occupational footwear that abides by safety standards with minimalistic features can help maintain postural stability and reduce falls.