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Wearable cushioning products that accommodate the body contours are challenging to fabricate. A method that controls the curvature of spacer fabric thus facilitating a high degree of conformity to the body is proposed here. Elastic yarn is inlaid into one of the surface layers and the feeding rate is controlled. The physical properties, curvature and compression properties of five samples with the same knitted structure but different feeding rate of the elastic yarn are evaluated. The results show a linear relationship between fabric curvature and feeding rate. Curved spacer fabric with a lower feeding rate has a greater degree of curvature and is thicker, but with a smaller fabric width, and lower weight and density. The compression stiffness and work of compression increase with curvature, which allows strategic cushioning in areas that are relatively more curved, such as the kneecaps. The proposed method can contribute to the development of protective garments.

This paper presents a three-dimensional nonlinear biomechanical finite element model to simulate elderly breast deformation under arm abduction. The finite element model was constructed based on complex anatomical structures that consist of the soft tissues including torso, breast, pectoralis major muscle, and rigid bones including humerus, sternum, clavicle and ribs. The elderly breast was defined as material nonlinearity and geometric nonlinearity. The computational model can simulate and illustrate the deformation of soft tissues during arm abduction from 30° to 90°. The finite element model was validated by motion data. The Young’s modulus for the clavicular portion and the sternocostal portion of the pectoralis major muscle was characterized as 0.1 MPa and 0.08 MPa, respectively. Besides this, the finite element model presented here features the musculoskeletal system for breast deformation and reveals the synergistic relationship between the breast and the pectoralis major muscle. A questionnaire was conducted to analyze the importance of purchasing factors and the discomfort positions in a sports bra from the perspective of senior women. Combined with the finite element model results, this study provides a promising basis for the design of sports bras in an ergonomic way.

Official guidelines state that suitable physical activity is recommended for patients with diabetes mellitus. However, since walking at a rapid pace could be associated with increased plantar pressure and potential foot pain, the footwear condition is particularly important for optimal foot protection in order to reduce the risk of tissue injury and ulceration of diabetic patients. This study aims to analyze foot deformation and plantar pressure distribution at three different walking speeds (slow, normal, and fast walking) in dynamic situations. The dynamic foot shape of 19 female diabetic patients at three walking speeds is obtained by using a novel 4D foot scanning system. Their plantar pressure distributions at the three walking speeds are also measured by using the Pedar in-shoe system. The pressure changes in the toes, metatarsal heads, medial and lateral midfoot, and heel areas are systematically investigated. Although a faster walking speed shows slightly larger foot measurements than the two other walking speeds, the difference is insignificant. The foot measurement changes at the forefoot and heel areas, such as the toe angles and heel width, are found to increase more readily than the measurements at the midfoot. The mean peak plantar pressure shows a significant increase at a faster walking speed with the exception of the midfoot, especially at the forefoot and heel areas. However, the pressure time integral decreases for all of the foot regions with an increase in walking speed. Suitable offloading devices are essential for diabetic patients, particularly during brisk walking. Design features such as medial arch support, wide toe box, and suitable insole material for specific area of the foot (such as polyurethane for forefoot area and ethylene-vinyl acetate for heel area) are essential for diabetic insole/footwear to provide optimal fit and offloading. The findings contribute to enhancing the understanding of foot shape deformation and plantar pressure changes during dynamic situations, thus facilitating the design of footwear/insoles with optimal fit, wear comfort, and foot protection for diabetic patients.

Background Hallux valgus orthoses are available in a wide range of designs and materials, but the effects of their design on functional performance have not been fully investigated. Research question This present study aims to comprehensively analyze the immediate effects of soft and semi-rigid hallux valgus orthoses on balance, plantar pressure, hallux valgus angle, and subjective sensations. Methods Sixteen female subjects have participated in the study, including 10 subjects with healthy feet and 6 with hallux valgus. Three conditions are tested, including in the barefoot and using two types of commercially available hallux valgus orthoses. The subjects participate in static and dynamic (walking) tests with the use of the Novel Pedar® system. The peak pressure values in the hallux, lateral toes, first metatarsophalangeal joint, 2-4th metatarsal heads, 5th metatarsal head, medial midfoot, lateral midfoot and rearfoot in the various foot conditions are examined and compared. The hallux valgus angle of each subject is measured based on their footprint. Their subjective feelings towards the orthoses are also evaluated. A repeated-measures analysis of variance, and independent-sample t-test are performed. Results The correction of the hallux valgus angle is statistically significant when the subjects with hallux valgus use the orthoses. In comparing the two types of orthoses, the use of the orthosis made of soft materials results in correction in the hallux valgus angle and higher wear comfort, and lower plantar pressure in hallux area. Significance The results provide insights into the design of hallux valgus orthoses, thus offering practical reference for the selection of hallux valgus orthosis with compromise between functional performance and wear comfort.

Sports bras are an essential apparel for active women, but may exert excessive pressure that negatively affects thermoregulation, thermal comfort and wear sensation. This study measures skin temperature changes during short durations of exercise on a treadmill with different bra pressures. The results based on 21 female subjects (age: 27.2 ± 4.5 years old) show that bras with more pressure at the underband or shoulder straps do not cause statistically significant skin temperature changes during exercise (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, compared to the optimal bra fit, significant differences in bra-breast skin temperature are found during running, cooling down and sitting when the bra pressure is increased (p < 0.05), particularly under bra cup (T1) in this study. The FLIR thermal images can visualize the skin temperature changes at abdomen throughout the four activity stages. Subjective sensations of bra thermal comfort, pressure and breast support are assessed. Despite the increased pressure on the shoulders and chest wall, perceptions towards thermal comfort remain unchanged. The perceived pressure comfort and support sensation amongst the 4 bra conditions are comparable. Interestingly, positive sensations of pressure comfort and breast support are perceived with a tight-fitting sports bra during treadmill exercise. High pressures induced by sports bras (>4 kPa) that habitually considered harmful to the human body may not lead to wear discomfort but enhance bra support sensation and a sense of security to the wearers.

Background: Alterations in the lower limb kinematics and kinetics of diabetic patients have been reported in previous studies. Inappropriate choices of orthopedic insole materials, however, fail to prevent diabetic foot ulcers and modify abnormal gait. The aim of this study was to quantitatively compare the effects of contoured insoles with different materials on the kinematics of and kinetics changes in the diabetic elderly during gait. Methods: There were 21 diabetic patients who participated in this study. Three-dimensional (3D) experimental contoured insoles constructed of soft (i.e., Nora Lunalastik EVA and PORON® Medical 4708) and rigid (i.e., Nora Lunalight A fresh and Pe-Lite) materials with Langer Biomechanics longitudinal PPT® arch pads were adopted. An eight-camera motion capture system (VICON), two force plates, and an insole measurement system—Pedar® with 99 sensors—were utilized to obtain the kinematics and kinetics data. The plug-in lower body gait model landmarks were used for dynamic data acquisition during gait. The corresponding data from five gait cycles were selected and calculated. Results: The range of motions (ROMs) of the ankle joint (p = 0.001) and knee joint (p = 0.044) were significantly influenced when the contoured insoles were worn in comparison to the barefoot condition. The joint moments of the lower limbs with maximum ankle plantarflexion during the loading response and maximum knee and hip flexions were significantly influenced by the use of contoured insoles with different materials in the diabetic elderly. The peak plantar pressure (PPP) of the forefoot (p < 0.001), midfoot (p = 0.009), and rearfoot (p < 0.001) was significantly offloaded by the contoured insoles during the stance phase, whilst the PPP of the rearfoot (p < 0.001) was significantly offloaded during the swing phase. Conclusions: The contoured insoles, especially those constructed with soft materials, significantly offloaded the PPP during gait—hence accommodating certain abnormal gait patterns more effectively compared to going barefoot.

Receptivity towards textile-based fiber optic sensors that are used to monitor physical health is increasing as they have good flexibility, are light in weight, provide wear comfort, have electromagnetic immunity, and are electrically safe. Their superior performance has facilitated their use for obtaining close to body measurements. However, there are many related studies in the literature, so it is challenging to identify the knowledge structure and research trends. Therefore, this article aims to provide an objective and systematic literature review on textile-based fiber optic sensors that are used for monitoring health issues and to analyze their trends through a citation network analysis. A full-text search of journal articles was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection, and a total of 625 studies was found, with 47 that were used as the sample. Also, CitNetExplorer was used for analyzing the research domains and trends. Three research domains were identified, among them, “Flexible sensors for vital signs monitoring” is the largest research cluster, and most of the articles in this cluster focus on respiratory monitoring. Therefore, this area of study should probably be on the academic radar. The collection of data on textile-based fiber optic sensors is invaluable for evaluating degree of rehabilitation, detecting diseases, preventing accidents, as well as gauging the performance and training successfulness of athletes.

This study focuses on the fabrication of an anisotropic textile brace that exerts corrective forces based on the three-point pressure system to treat scoliosis, which is a medical condition that involves deformity of the spine. The design and material properties of the proposed anisotropic textile brace are discussed in detail here. A case series study with 5 scoliosis patients has been conducted to investigate the immediate in-brace effect and biomechanics of the proposed brace. Radiographic examination, three-dimensional scanning of the body and interface pressure measurements have been used to evaluate the immediate effect of the proposed brace on reducing the spinal curvature and asymmetry of the body contours and its biomechanics. The results show that the proposed brace on average reduces the spinal curvature by 11.7° and also increases the symmetry of the posterior trunk by 14.1% to 43.2%. The interface pressure at the corrective pad ranges from 6.0 to 24.4 kPa. The measured interface pressure shows that a sufficient amount of pressure has been exerted and a three-point pressure distribution is realized to reduce the spinal curvature. The obtained results indicate the effectiveness of this new approach which uses elastic textile material and a hinged artificial backbone to correct spinal deformity.

A novel spacer fabric with a weft-knitted structure of silicone tube and foam inlays is proposed for use in insoles to alleviate in-shoe pressure, reduce moisture and enhance thermal comfort. The material variables, including the diameter of the spacer yarn, type of inlaid material and net wrap and spacer pattern have been systematically investigated. Their force reduction and thermal characteristics in terms of air and water vapour permeabilities, thermal conductivity and impact force reduction are determined and compared to those of traditional insole materials. The results show that the inlays can effectively enhance the impact force reduction of the 3D spacer fabrics. In comparison to traditional insole materials, the proposed spacer fabric with an inlaid structure can enhance air and moisture permeabilities and heat dissipation to provide greater wear comfort for prolonged use. The air permeability, thermal conductivity and impact force reduction of the inlaid spacer structure can be modified with changes to the diameter of the spacer yarn, type of inlay and net material used and spacer pattern, whilst its water vapour permeability can also be varied by using different types of inlays. Spacer fabric with a higher number of spacer yarn courses and spacer yarn with a large diameter not only exhibits good impact force reduction with uniform thickness, but also offers good thermal conductivity. The findings of this study will contribute toward an insole design with the use of alternative insole materials for optimal foot protection.

A well-fitting bra provides adequate and exceptional support of the breasts and the desirable body shape for the wearer but would not exert excessive pressure onto the breasts. Among the different design features of bras, the materials selected for the bra cups are a key element for enhancing breast support and improving the perceived comfort. This paper proposes a subject-specific model based on numerical simulation to investigate the influence of different types of bra cup materials on the shape of the breasts and amount of pressure on the breasts. The study comprises three phases. The first phase is the development of a subject-specific contact model and simulation of the bra-wearing process. The second phase is the construction and analysis of three models with different bra cup materials (knitted, woven and foam) to compare their shaping effects on the breasts and the corresponding amount of applied contact pressure. The third phase uses the validated numerical model to simulate the use of a series of virtual bra cup materials, their impact on the shape of the breasts, and the associated bra pressure. It is found that a stiffer fabric has a better performance in reshaping the breasts and reducing the amount of pressure from the straps onto the neck for a halter-neck bra but distributes a higher amount of pressure at the bottom part of the breasts. An overall better performance of reshaping the breasts is achieved by increasing the tensile strength of the bra cup material. Nevertheless, the small change in the shaping effects can be negligible after the Young’s modulus reaches about 1.5 MPa. Among the four measured variables, it is more useful to measure the gathering of the breasts and depth of cleavage than the lifting of the breasts to determine the amount of breast deformation caused by a bra. The newly developed finite element model for contact analysis in this study provides a better understanding on the interactive process between the breasts and the bra by predicting the deformation within a variance of 6.8 % in comparison to the experimental results of the contact pressure with the same trend and magnitude. Numerical simulations can therefore facilitate decisions on the type of fabric used for bra designs that provide optimal fabric pressure and other stretchable apparel products that take both the shaping effect and wear comfort into consideration.

Traditional breast displacement studies included human subjects and maintaining result consistency is restricted by biomechanical limitations. This study proposes an objective approach that investi...

As the use of textile polypropylene (PP) fibers becomes more common in commercial textiles and sportswear, the investigation of the effects of UV-curable ink on the heat-sensitive PP knitted fabrics is crucial to optimize functional clothing design. This study investigated the effects of UV-curable ink on the heat-sensitive PP knitted fabrics when the ink was cured using UV light at room temperature, to avoid degradation of the PP fabric by high temperature, and provided an alternative coloring method for PP fabric used in sportswear. The influences of printing parameters such as the printing distance, number of overprints, and color of ink on fabrics as well as aesthetic, physical, and low-stress mechanical properties in terms of tensile, bending, shearing, surface, and compression were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the physical properties and low-stress mechanical properties of PP fabrics printed with UV-curable ink were significantly affected by the number of overprints and the color of the prints, whereas the color appearance was affected mainly by the number of overprints and the printing distance. In terms of the fabric’s hand value, only 2HB and 2HG5 were significantly affected by the number of overprints and the color of the prints, with the prediction rate exceeding 40 % among the low-stress mechanical properties. The fabric’s hand value was not significantly affected by the thin UV-cured ink film when compared with the fabric itself. Fabric printed in a color with the greatest lightness and the fewest overprints had the lowest fabric weight, thickness, and color difference (ΔE) towards the reference color, in addition to better bending recovery and resilience properties. The new knowledge from this study can provide an alternative coloring method for PP knitted fabric to increase the design variety available to textile designers who use PP fabric. The results from this study contribute to the textile and knitwear design industry.

The use of children’s buoyant swimwear has become more common. However, its bulkiness and hardness restrict the wearer’s movement. For better fit, comfort and mobility, a knitted buoyant swimming vest is developed. It is compared with two market samples using subjective evaluation according to the Functional, Expressive and Aesthetic (FEA) Consumer Needs Model and laboratory tests of objective measurements. The results of a paired-sample t-test show that a tightly fitting buoyant swimming vest should be worn out of water, as the vest becomes a perfect fit in water. Tests on the knitted buoyant swimming vest demonstrate improved functionality and higher buoyancy than that of two market samples conforming to British Standard EN13138-1:2014. The results of repeated measures analysis of variance show an overall significant higher satisfaction level in the knitted buoyant swimming vest than two market samples in terms of fit, comfort and mobility. The results of this study are significant for both the textile industry and the fast-growing sportswear industry.

A novel structure that integrates an inlaid silicone tube in the connective layer of spacer fabric is developed to increase its compression resistance and impact force absorption. Two inlaying meth...

Hypertrophic scars are usually evaluated based on scar assessment scales such as Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) which are difficult in recording small changes in the scar conditions over time. This study adopts a simple method to quantify the size of hypertrophic scars on hands by using a camera and tripod set-up for image capturing and a free software, ImageJ, for analysis. The ability to record the changes in scars condition and healing progress of this method were investigated. Four hypertrophic scar samples on the hands were captured at 8 time-points during 24-week of pressure therapy. Three operators were trained for 2h to use the software and then carried out image analysis on 32 scar images to obtain the surface areas of the hand and the scars and repeat the entire measurement for 3 times. The results show that the measured scar surface areas have good intra-operator reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.943 (0.922, 0.96) and moderate inter-operator reliability with an ICC of 0.554 (0.063, 0.795). No significant within-subject effect of the repeat of measurements (p>0.05) and between-subject effect of the three operators (p>0.05) were found on the scar area measurements and the proportion of the scars on hands but significant differences were found between different time-points of the image capturing (p

The aim is to analyze the bra design features and fit problems of older women and to design solutions to improve bra fit and design for older women. Twenty-six participants aged 62 ± 4 years participated in bra fitting experiments with eight commercial senior bras featuring different design features. The bra design features were firstly quantified into 19 parameters including dimensions and/or curvatures, material properties, bra tension and elongation. The associations between bra design features and related problems were then systematically addressed. The most common fit problem was bulging, which was affected by underarm height ( r = 0.23, p

Accurate evaluations of the interface pressure between the bra and skin are critically important prerequisites for the ergonomic design of bra components. Nevertheless, previous analyses on contact...

Bracing is the most common non-operative treatment option for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, existing brace designs have deficiencies, including a long production lead time and low patient compliance caused by the negative impacts of bracing on quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to address these problems by developing a new textile-based scoliosis brace in accordance with the biomechanics used in the existing braces for spinal correction. A case study of interface pressure had been carried out to determine the optimum combination of pads to be used in the proposed brace to correct a scoliotic spine. AIS patients who were undergoing hard brace treatment were recruited to complete a questionnaire (BrQ) on hard braces and on the proposed brace. The BrQ scores of the two types of braces were compared to assess their respective impacts on the QoL. The findings show that the proposed brace can address the issue of patient compliance by reducing the impact of bracing on QoL, and shorten the production lead time through incorporation of the mass customization concept into the design. Similar to most of the commonly-used scoliosis braces, the selected combination of pads used in the proposed brace for spinal correction shows a sufficient amount of exerted pressure and a similar function of active spinal correction.

There are many nonsurgical treatment options from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) to control the progression of the spinal curvature. However, the existing studies are so diverse and diffuse that it is challenging to find potential trends for further studies without a more comprehensive review in place for reference purposes. Thus, the objective of this review article is to conduct a systematic literature review on the noninvasive treatment of AIS with a citation network analysis. The Web of Science (WoS) was searched using 9 reference keywords to collect published articles in English on nonsurgical treatment options for AIS from 1979 to 2019. Each eligible article focused on the nonsurgical options for treating AIS. In addition, the HistCite and the UCINet softwares were referred to for article distribution and citation network analysis. Only non-invasive treatment options of AIS were included. Studies that estimated the amount of spinal curvature, causes of or risk factors for AIS and any invasive treatments, such as surgery, were not focused on. The articles were independently extracted by 3 authors based on the predefined eligibility criteria. The title, authors, year of publication, country or region of publication, reference list, keywords and other bibliographic information from each article was extracted and analyzed purely based on the data with the HistCite and UCINet programs. At last, a total of 146 articles out of 1594 articles were selected for the literature review after the exclusion of 1357 irrelevant articles and 91 inappropriate studies, such as letters and proceedings papers. Of these 146 articles, the majority were empirical studies (74.0%). There was also a lack of meta-analyses in this research field. Based on the results of the citation network analysis, most of the top 10 articles with the highest local citation scores (LCSs) focused on bracing as a treatment. The popularity of bracing as a research topic was also supported by the citation network structure, as brace treatment was in the largest of the five research clusters; this cluster also included posture training through exercise, managing the corrective forces of braces, 3D analysis of braces and quality of life during brace treatment. However, most of these studies focused on rigid braces. A few studies on non-rigid braces and other types of nonsurgical treatment were available in the current literature, which might indicate potential research areas for future studies. To conclude, noninvasive treatment for AIS has been on the academic radar recently; but there are still research gaps, such as the lack of research on semi-rigid and flexible braces or posture training exercises with biofeedback systems. Further studies could explore these research directions.

As the use of buoyant swimwear by children in residential swimming becomes more common, the investigation of the effects of buoyant textiles is crucial for the optimisation of functional buoyant clothing design. This study investigated buoyant knitted fabrics developed using an inlaid knitting technique for buoyant swimwear application. The impact of the inner diameter, outer diameter, and the linear density of the inlaid tube on the buoyant ability of the buoyant fabrics was analyzed using multiple linear regression. The result demonstrated that the fabric’s net buoyant force was significantly affected by all three parameters, with inner diameter having the greatest effect, followed by the outer diameter and linear density of the inlaid tube. The increase in the net buoyant force of the fabric can be predicted by the increase in the inner diameter of its inlaid tube and linear density and decrease in the outer diameter. The divergence of the results for specimens inlaid with Silicon tube and from the result predicted by multiple linear regression indicates that the net buoyant force is also affected by the linear density and the wall thickness of the inlaid tube. The new knowledge of this study can contribute to the production of buoyant layers inside the buoyant swimwear in replace of air chambers to improve the limitation of non-distributed buoyancy, accidental punctuation and bulkiness in conventional buoyant swimwear.

In the intimate apparel industry, the evaluation of bra designs has traditionally relied on the practical experience of designers. The limitations of conventional evaluation methods have rendered d...

More than 422 million people worldwide suffered from diabetes mellitus (DM) in 2021. Diabetic foot is one the most critical complications resultant of DM. Foot ulceration and infection are frequently arisen, which are associated with changes in the mechanical properties of the plantar soft tissues, peripheral arterial disease, and sensory neuropathy. Diabetic insoles are currently the mainstay in reducing the risk of foot ulcers by reducing the magnitude of the pressure on the plantar Here, we propose a novel pressure relieving heel pad based on a circular auxetic re-entrant honeycomb structure by using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to minimize the pressure on the heel, thus reducing the occurrence of foot ulcers. Finite element models (FEMs) are developed to evaluate the structural changes of the developed circular auxetic structure upon exertion of compressive forces. Moreover, the effects of the internal angle of the re-entrant structure on the peak contact force and the mean pressure acting on the heel as well as the contact area between the heel and the pads are investigated through a finite element analysis (FEA). Based on the result from the validated FEMs, the proposed heel pad with an auxetic structure demonstrates a distinct reduction in the peak contact force (∼10%) and the mean pressure (∼14%) in comparison to a conventional diabetic insole (PU foam). The characterized result of the designed circular auxetic structure not only provides new insights into diabetic foot protection, but also the design and development of various impact resistance products.

Insoles provide resistance to ground reaction forces and comfort during walking. In this study, a novel weft-knitted spacer fabric structure with inlays for insoles is proposed which not only absorbs shock and resists pressure, but also allows heat dissipation for enhanced thermal comfort. The results show that the inlay density and spacer yarn increase compression resistance and reduce impact forces. The increased spacer yarn density provides better air permeability but reduces thermal resistance, while a lower inlay density with a random orientation reduces the evaporative resistance. The proposed structure has significantly positive implications for insole applications.

Hallux valgus is a common foot deformity characterized by hypermobility of the first metatarsal ray. The lower longitudinal arch is an intrinsic factor related to the lateral drift of the hallux. This paper conducted a quantitative study on the improvement of the first metatarsal and arch condition by arch support and used finite element analysis to simulate the bone displacement with the intervention of arch support. In this research, a foot arch support made of carbon fiber was developed and seventy-six female subjects were recruited for a two-month wear trial. Footprints of their dominant foot were measured to investigate the effect of the arch support on lifting the arch and correcting the hallux valgus pathology. Different foot parameters including foot length, foot breadth, heel breadth, arch angle, arch breadth, plantar arch index, foot type index, and hallux valgus angle were also compared. By using finite element analysis, the biomechanical effects of the arch support on the foot structure can be visualized. According to the results of the wear trial, the use of the arch support can significantly improve the arch curvature of the foot, while no significant correction of the hallux valgus angle was found. Among the arch parameters, the arch breadth and the foot type index are the key indicators to precisely characterize foot types and arch conditions. When a clear outline of the footprint is not available, arch breadth provides reliable association with the foot type index (R2 = 0.928). An arch breadth ≥ 4 cm is categorized as flatfoot. This article confirms the effectiveness of our arch support in lifting the arch over a two-month period and provides a scientific surrogate index to aid in diagnosis, which is important for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Background: Sports bras are engineer designed to enhance sports performance, which means that they need to provide an excellent fit, and offer adequate support and protection of the breasts to optimize their functionality. To effectively reduce breast motion during different intensity levels of exercise, the materials of sports bras are generally rigid which exert compressive forces onto the soft tissues of the breasts. However, these materials may still restrict air flow and inhibit body heat loss, while the pressure from the bra exerted onto the skin may also increases physiological strain and wear discomfort. This excessively high exerted pressure is known to produce an inhibitory effect on the sweating rate and associated with a significant rise in the axillary and core temperatures. This preliminary study therefore investigates the influence of bra pressure on the upper body temperature and thermal comfort following a short duration of treadmill running. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of increased bra pressure on thermal response following exercise. The findings provide bra designers with insight into bra pressure and related bra design features necessary for optimal wear comfort during physical activities. Methods: A total of 12 young women have participated in this study to don a changeable sports bra that allows adjustment of tension or replacement of the bra components. The skin and body core temperatures as well as heart rate for four bra conditions during treadmill running for 15 minutes at 8 km/h are recorded by using temperature and heart rate sensors. The subjectively perceived thermal and pressure comfort are evaluated by using a visual analog scale with ratings of 1 to 10.Results: Following exercise, there is no change in core temperature for all of the bra conditions studied. Even though the body core temperature may increase due to the higher rate of heat production with muscular work done during treadmill running, the increase in heat dissipation tends to balance the increase in rate of metabolic heat production to maintain a stable core temperature. After a short duration of treadmill running, the change in skin temperature ranges from 0.22oC to 3.56oC amongst the 4 bra conditions. The shoulder strap area shows a slight change in skin temperature during exercise, and the participants are particularly sensitive to the increased pressure in this area, thus adversely affecting their ratings of the thermal and pressure comfort. Conclusion: In this study, the increased bra pressure does not show significant change in core temperature and heart rate during short duration exercise. Even though the results are not statistically significant, the shoulder strap pressure is found to be related to the changes in skin temperature and subjective ratings of thermal and pressure comfort.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common condition that involves the curvature of the lateral spine and rotation of vertebrae often found in adolescents from age 10 to skeletal maturity. There are various kinds of treatments that prevent the natural progression of the spinal curvature, such as bracing and surgery. However, spinal surgery is mainly reserved for patients with severe scoliosis (spinal curvature that exceeds 45 degrees). For those with moderate scoliosis (spinal curvature larger than 21 but less than 40 degrees), bracing treatment is usually recommended as a non-operative treatment. In this study, the anisotropic textile brace (ATB) is designed to help those with moderate AIS to stop any further progression of their curvature. A case study of a female patient with AIS who has participated a 2-hour wear trial with the ATB is reported. The result of her Cobb angle values shown in the in-brace radiograph is compared without wearing a brace so as to evaluate the immediate effects of this treatment with a soft brace. Besides, the in-brace radiograph is also compared with a supine radiograph to determine the effectiveness of the bracing treatment. A positive result is found in that there is an immediate reduction of the spinal curvature.

Repetitive high pressure on the plantar of the foot along with loss of protective sensation is one of the key factors that result in diabetic foot ulceration. Orthopedic insoles have been proven to significantly reduce the peak plantar pressure. It is anticipated that the offloading performance of insoles is mainly influenced by the properties of insole materials. Therefore, the objective of this study is to compare the immediate offloading performance of 3D insoles designed with 4 different types of insole materials during walking. The PORON® Medical 4708 insole has the best offloading performance for each foot region compared to the other insole materials. Compared to the barefoot condition, the peak pressure with the use of the PORON® Medical 4708 insole is reduced by 37% on the entire plantar surface, 40% at the medial rearfoot, 42% at the lateral rearfoot, 12% at the lateral midfoot, 19% at the 1st metatarsal head (MTH), 59% at the 2nd - 4th MTHs, 46% in the 5th MTH, 4% at the hallux, and 7% at the other toes. Softer insole materials have better offloading performance compared to the harder materials during walking.

Hong Kong is often playfully called the “Frozen City” because the air-conditioning in many buildings operates at frigid temperatures during the summer. However, the large temperature differences between the external and internal environments could cause a large array of illnesses, especially children who are not aware of the temperature changes and are less likely to have self-care ability. Therefore, wearing appropriate undergarments or summer underwear could be one of the solutions. However, there are few studies that have investigated the thermal and tactile comfort of summer underwear. In this study, physical experiments, KES-FB measurements, and a wear trial are done to address the lack of studies. Seven conventional types of materials for undergarments are tested. The results indicate that lighter, thinner, and low stitch density fabrics constructed with uniform filaments increase breathability and enhance moisture wicking. Also, uniform fibres increase the thermal conductivity thus enhancing a cooler feeling. In regards tactile comfort, lighter and thinner materials with a higher percentage of elastane, finer yarn, and uniform and long fibres offer a softer, smoother, and cooler hand feel. In addition, the pure cotton material appears to more regulate body temperature as the resultant undergarment facilitates a higher rate of perspiration despite clinging. These results are a good reference for materials scientists, textile researchers as well as academics to further related research work.

Foot morphological changes induced by degenerative processes are commonly found in old people. Such changes in foot anthropometry may adversely affect foot health and footwear comfort, and prolonged use of ill-fitting footwear may even cause foot deformation. This study compares foot anthropometric measurements between young and old women to determine key foot measurements, which can also act as indicators for developing footwear appropriate for the elderly. Using a three-dimensional handheld scanner, 11 foot anthropometric measurements are captured and used to characterize the dimensions and foot shape between young and old women. Eighty-two women between the ages of 20 and 95 years—that is, 41 young women (mean = 24.0; standard deviation = 3.5) and 41 old women (mean = 82.1; standard deviation = 7.2)—were recruited for this study. The results indicate that old women have a significantly longer and wider heel than young women as well as significantly larger ball and instep circumferences after normalization for foot length. Old women also exhibit larger deformity in the degree of hallux valgus and more pronated feet than young women do. A discriminant analysis linear equation has also been established to classify their foot type based on heel length and heel width with reference to their age group.