The use of 3D surface scanning for the measurement and assessment of the human foot

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A number of surface scanning systems with the ability to quickly and easily obtain 3D digital representations of the foot are now commercially available. This review aims to present a summary of the reported use of these technologies in footwear development, the design of customised orthotics, and investigations for other ergonomic purposes related to the foot.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were searched. Reference lists and experts in the field were also consulted to identify additional articles. Studies in English which had 3D surface scanning of the foot as an integral element of their protocol were included in the review.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-eight articles meeting the search criteria were included. Advantages and disadvantages of using 3D surface scanning systems are highlighted. A meta-analysis of studies using scanners to investigate the changes in foot dimensions during varying levels of weight bearing was carried out.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Modern 3D surface scanning systems can obtain accurate and repeatable digital representations of the foot shape and have been successfully used in medical, ergonomic and footwear development applications. The increasing affordability of these systems presents opportunities for researchers investigating the foot and for manufacturers of foot related apparel and devices, particularly those interested in producing items that are customised to the individual. Suggestions are made for future areas of research and for the standardization of the protocols used to produce foot scans.</p

Aging Hallmarks: the benefits of physical exercise

World population has been continuously increasing and progressively aging. Aging is characterized by a complex and intraindividual process associated with nine major cellular and molecular hallmarks, namely, genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, a loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered intercellular communication. This review exposes the positive antiaging impact of physical exercise at the cellular level, highlighting its specific role in attenuating the aging effects of each hallmark. Exercise should be seen as a polypill, which improves the health-related quality of life and functional capabilities while mitigating physiological changes and comorbidities associated with aging. To achieve a framework of effective physical exercise interventions on aging, further research on its benefits and the most effective strategies is encouraged

Historic landscape character and sense of place

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Landscape Research, 2013, Vol. 38, Issue 2 pp.179-202, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/01426397.2012.672642.Most studies of landscape character within archaeology and historical geography have focused on morphological features such as whether settlement patterns were nucleated or dispersed, but this paper discusses how adding depth to this, for example by studying place-names, vernacular architecture, and the territorial structures within which a landscape was managed in the past, gives us a far greater understanding of its texture and meaning to local communities. In two case-studies in southern Essex, for example, it is shown how the connections that once existed between inland and coastal communities can be used today to promote public access to the countryside. A further case study, in southwest England, shows how field-/place-names and vernacular architecture also make an important contribution to our appreciation of the time depth and complexity of landscape character.Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)Southend-on-Sea Borough Counci

Cross-sectional analysis of foot function, functional ability, and health-related quality of life in older people with disabling foot pain

Objective. To determine whether disabling foot pain is associated with foot function characteristics, functional ability, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults.Methods. The Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index was used to establish the presence of foot pain in 312 community-dwelling men and women age \u3e60 years. Ankle dorsiflexion strength and flexibility, foot reaction time, hallux and lesser toe flexor strength, and spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured to characterize foot function. Participants completed postural sway tasks and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) as a measure of HRQOL. Participants with disabling foot pain, classified using both the original and conservative (at least 1 item scored as ÿmost/every dayÿ) definitions, were then compared to those without pain, adjusting for sex and body mass index.Results. Participants with foot pain scored significantly lower on the total SF-36 and all subcomponents. Ankle dorsiflexion strength, hallux strength, stride length, step length, and walking speed were significantly reduced in those with foot pain. After applying a more conservative cutoff for disabling foot pain, reduced toe flexor strength, increased foot reaction time, increased postural sway, increased time in double support, and reduced time in single support emerged as additional characteristics of those with disabling foot pain.Conclusion. Older people with disabling foot pain exhibit reduced HRQOL, functional impairment, and alterations to foot function that may contribute to an increased risk of falling. Providing interventions to older people to reduce foot pain and improve foot function may play a role in improving mobility and quality of life