Altering Gait by Way of Stimulation of the Plantar Surface of the Foot: The Immediate Effect of Wearing Textured Insoles in Older Fallers
By Hatton, Anna L.; Dixon, John; Rome, Keith; Newton, Julia L.; Maratin, Denis J.; Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, Volume 5, Number 11Publication Date: April 30, 2012
Study investigated the immediate effect of wearing textured insoles that stimulate the plantar surface of the foot on gait and double-limb standing balance in seniors with a history of falling. Participants were 30 seniors, of whom 21 were women, with a mean age of 79 years and self-reported history of more than 2 falls in the previous year. Participants performed level ground walking over 10 meters using GAITRite instrumentation and double-limb standing on a Kistler force platform with eyes open and eyes closed over 30 seconds. The tests were performed in two conditions: experimental, wearing Evalite Pyramid EVA 3 millimeter thick textured insoles, and control, wearing smooth insoles in their usual footwear. Wearing textured insoles caused significantly lower gait velocity, step length, and stride length compared with wearing smooth insoles. No significant differences were found in any of the balance parameters. Test results suggested that older adults with a history of falls may not have an immediate benefit from wearing textured insoles. Study limitations and implications for studies on the long-term effects of prolonged exposure to textured insoles for this population are discussed.
Assistive Products Discussed: GAITRITE SYSTEM
Published by: BioMed Central Ltd (Website:http://www.biomedcentral.com)
Link to text: http://www.jfootankleres.com/content/pdf/1757-1146-5-11.pdf
