Running thermoregulation effects using bioceramics versus polyester fibres socks

Abstract

The feet, covered by socks and shoes during running, undergo an increase of temperature. The aim of this study was to reduce heat generation in the feet of athletes during running by wearing novel thermoregulatory socks impregnated with bioceramic materials. Thirty male athletes ran a half-marathon (21.0975 km) wearing polyester based with bioceramic fibres (zirconium silicate and titanium oxide) and control socks (polyester). The average temperatures were measured with a thermographic camera (FLIR e60bx) before and after the run. Nine regions of interests were evaluated in the plantar surface and eight in the dorsum. Before running, the plantar region with the highest temperature was the inner midfoot (plantar arch) with 30.3 AE 2.1 C on the control sock and 30.2 AE 2.1 C on the bioceramic one. After running, smaller temperatures were found at the plantar surface of five regions of interests: heel, inner midfoot, first and fifth metatarsal heads and first toe and all the dorsal regions of the bioceramic

Effectiveness of a Central Discharge Element Sock for Plantar Temperature Reduction and Improving Comfort

“…The central zone of the forefoot (second and third MTH) presented the highest temperatures in the base conditions and with the control socks. This is coherent with previous observations by Escamilla-Martínez et al [ 21 ], in which the temperature in this zone was measured at 28.7 ± 2.2 °C in conditions prior to a race, a value remarkably similar to that obtained in the present study (28.3 ± 2.7 °C). Although foot temperature can be influenced by various biomechanical variables, the second and third MTH would be warmer due to their greater participation in the statics and dynamics of gait [ 26 ].…”

“…To date, technological development in socks has mainly focused on incorporating new fibers with potential beneficial effects, such as fluorine [ 30 ] or chitosan [ 31 ], that improve localized thermal conditions. The addition of other fibers based on noble metals such as copper [ 32 ] or nanosilver [ 33 ], or on bioceramics, which have been shown to have antimicrobial [ 34 ] and thermoregulatory effects [ 21 ], could help reduce the risk of skin lesions such as fissures and small wounds [ 35 ]. In contrast, the design of the plantar part of the sock has not received much technological attention, and it is clear that a redesign of its structure could have beneficial effects in reducing pressure and increasing comfort.…”

“…In this way, analysis with infrared thermography could capture the temperature differences between the regions of interest in the foot, and identify the zones with greater biomechanical participation while walking (as hotter zones), and therefore those that support a greater load. With this technology, it has been possible to determine that, both before and after a race, the highest temperature in the forefoot zone corresponds to the central region [ 21 ].…”

The Use of Infrared Thermography to Develop and Assess a Wearable Sock and Monitor Foot Temperature in Diabetic Subjects

“…A total of 17 data average temperatures (9 plantar and 8 dorsal) of each participant were collected and stored using the The Flir Tools software (Similar to Figure 1 ). This number of ROIs has been used previously in thermographyc assessments [ 38 , 39 , 40 ] (see Figure 2 ). Room humidity (%) and temperature ( C) were also measured with a Flir MR 77 device.…”

Reducción de presiones plantares dinámicas en el antepié plantar medial con calcetines biomecánicos.

“…Así, calcetines fabricados con quitosano han mostrado unos efectos de regeneración dérmica y de elevado confort y son capaces de prevenir lesiones en pacientes diabéticos 4 . Otras fibras con propiedades biológicas, como son las fibras biocerámicas que, a través de la captación y emisión de infrarrojos lejanos, producen una mejora de la difusión cutánea de la temperatura que optimiza la microcirculación sanguínea 5 .…”