Biomechanics of the toe-only rocker sole shoe: gait kinematics and kinetics

This paper reports the kinematic and kinetic changes in gait with bilateral toe-only walker effects sole shoe application. Three-dimensional motion analysis techniques were employed to assess the temporal, stride, and motion/moment gait characteristics of forty (40) subjects while wearing baseline and toe-only rocker sole shoes. Despite the altered geometry of the toe-only rocker, walking speed was maintained through an increase in cadence (+1.8 steps/min) and decrease in stride length (-19.8 mm), p=0.01. The toe-only rocker consistently resulted in increase in posterior pelvic tilt (p=0.01). At the knee, the toe-only rocker consistently increased the knee extensor (quadriceps) moment demand throughout stance. Ankle joint moments were altered in the sagittal and transverse plane. Joint moment alterations were predominate with the toe-only rocker during stance (30-50 % cycle) and thought to relate to a transition about the rocker fulcrum.