Altering gait by way of stimulation of the plantar surface of the foot: The immediate effect of wearing textured insoles in older fallers

Hatton, Anna L., Dixon, John, Rome, Keith, Newton, Julia L. and Martin, Denis J. (2012) Altering gait by way of stimulation of the plantar surface of the foot: The immediate effect of wearing textured insoles in older fallers. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 5 : 11.1-11.13.


Author Hatton, Anna L.
Dixon, John
Rome, Keith
Newton, Julia L.
Martin, Denis J.
Title Altering gait by way of stimulation of the plantar surface of the foot: The immediate effect of wearing textured insoles in older fallers
Journal name Journal of Foot and Ankle Research  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank N/R)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2012-04
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1186/1757-1146-5-11
Volume number 5
ISSN 1757-1146
Start page 11.1
End page 11.13
Total pages 13
Place of publication London, United Kingdom
Publisher BioMed Central
Collection year 2013
Language eng
Formatted abstract Background: Evidence suggests that textured insoles can alter gait and standing balance by way of enhanced plantar tactile stimulation. However, to date, this has not been explored in older people at risk of falling. This study investigated the immediate effect of wearing textured insoles on gait and double-limb standing balance in older fallers.
Methods: Thirty older adults >65 years (21 women, mean [SD] age 79.0 [7.1]), with self-reported history of [greater than or equal to]2 falls in the previous year, conducted tests of level-ground walking over 10 m (GAITRite system), and double-limb standing with eyes open and eyes closed over 30 seconds (Kistler force platform) under two conditions: wearing textured insoles (intervention) and smooth (control) insoles in their usual footwear.
Results: Wearing textured insoles caused significantly lower gait velocity (P = 0.02), step length (P = 0.04) and stride length (P = 0.03) compared with wearing smooth insoles. No significant differences were found in any of the balance parameters (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: A textured insole worn by older adults with a history of falls significantly lowers gait velocity, step length and stride length, suggesting that this population may not have an immediate benefit from this type of intervention. The effects of prolonged wear remain to be investigated.
Keyword Textured insoles
Gait
Double-limb standing
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ
Additional Notes Article # 11

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2013 Collection
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Publications
 
Versions
Version Filter Type
Citation counts: Google Scholar Search Google Scholar
Access Statistics: 19 Abstract Views  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Wed, 20 Jun 2012, 12:34:43 EST by Anna Hatton on behalf of School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences