Shoe wear test machine: What exists versus innovations and promising concepts. A scoping review

Abstract

The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive review of the current literature on test techniques that imitate the contact phase between the shoe and the ground to study shoe wear over time. Scoping review. Peer-reviewed studies were identified from electronic databases using a structured keyword search and a screening process. Relevant characteristics have been classified into three fields: the control of the test machines, the characteristics of the foot-ankle complex machine control and the outputs of the mechanical tests. Eight peer-reviewed studies were retrieved after screening and further analyzed. They described seven different machines and testing arrangements presenting different mechanical designs and controls. The most advanced machines not only controlled the kinematic of shod passive prosthesis, but also included a form of control of the vertical ground reaction forces and the use of an active foot system with two joints. Still, the resulting foot kinematics and ground reaction forces remained far from those of a real human when the machines simulate walking or running at a realistic speed. Moreover, none of the reviewed studies presented results of wear tests for a long period of time. This review summarizes the different mechanical approaches described in existing shoe wear study literature. Although none of the reviewed studies proposed a fully satisfying mechanical solution, they presented encouraging results. The most promising concepts and the remaining research tracks have been identified.