Abstract:

Ideal footwear with a design configuration is necessitated as a tool of rehabilitation to render therapeutic benefits, especially for obese individuals who are experiencing greater risk during locomotion. Energy absorption is found to depend on variables like heel height, slope angle and load exerted by the body mass index. Statistical analysis was carried out to formulate a predictive equation for absorbed energy. It was found that a heel height of 30 mm offers an optimum base for further design of footwear. A coefficient of determination (R2) with a value of 0.933 indicates that the model fits the experimental data nicely. Hence, 30 mm 20 degree is suggested for designing ideal footwear as it enables load dissipation and energy absorption to render foot-comfort benefits and advantages to the user.