Tomasz Cudejko1, James Gardiner2, Asangaedem Akpan3, Kristiaan D'Août4. 1. Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. Electronic address: tomaszcudejko@gmail.com. 2. Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. Electronic address: J.D.Gardiner@liverpool.ac.uk. 3. Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom. Electronic address: asan.akpan@nihr.ac.uk. 4. Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. Electronic address: kristiaan.daout@liverpool.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Effects of minimal shoes on stability and physical function in older people are under-researched. No studies have systematically explored effects of a range of minimal footwear features on these factors in older people. METHODS: A within-participant repeated-measures design was used. Participants were subjected to thirteen footwear conditions: (i) barefoot, (ii) a conventional shoe, (iii) a control minimal shoe, (iv-xiii) minimal shoes differing from the control minimal shoe by one design feature. The outcomes were: (i) postural stability expressed with movement of the center of pressure (CoP) during standing (ii) dynamic stability expressed with the CoP movement during walking, (iv) physical function assessed with the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and (iv) perceptions of footwear assessed with the Monitor Orthopaedic Shoes questionnaire. Linear Mixed Models were applied for statistical analyses. FINDINGS: Twenty-two people participated in the study. Compared to the conventional shoe, participants: (i) were more stable during standing and walking in the majority of minimal shoes, and (ii) completed the TUG test faster when wearing the minimal shoe with wider sole. Compared to the control minimal shoe, participants: (i) completed the TUG test faster when wearing the minimal shoe with wider sole; and (ii) perceived features such as a split toe and a higher ankle collar as less fashionable and wearable. INTERPRETATION: Wearing minimal shoes might be more beneficial for stability and physical function in older adults than wearing conventional shoes. The results will be highly valuable for the design of minimal footwear for older adults.
BACKGROUND: Effects of minimal shoes on stability and physical function in older people are under-researched. No studies have systematically explored effects of a range of minimal footwear features on these factors in older people. METHODS: A within-participant repeated-measures design was used. Participants were subjected to thirteen footwear conditions: (i) barefoot, (ii) a conventional shoe, (iii) a control minimal shoe, (iv-xiii) minimal shoes differing from the control minimal shoe by one design feature. The outcomes were: (i) postural stability expressed with movement of the center of pressure (CoP) during standing (ii) dynamic stability expressed with the CoP movement during walking, (iv) physical function assessed with the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and (iv) perceptions of footwear assessed with the Monitor Orthopaedic Shoes questionnaire. Linear Mixed Models were applied for statistical analyses. FINDINGS: Twenty-two people participated in the study. Compared to the conventional shoe, participants: (i) were more stable during standing and walking in the majority of minimal shoes, and (ii) completed the TUG test faster when wearing the minimal shoe with wider sole. Compared to the control minimal shoe, participants: (i) completed the TUG test faster when wearing the minimal shoe with wider sole; and (ii) perceived features such as a split toe and a higher ankle collar as less fashionable and wearable. INTERPRETATION: Wearing minimal shoes might be more beneficial for stability and physical function in older adults than wearing conventional shoes. The results will be highly valuable for the design of minimal footwear for older adults.
Authors: Huiyu Zhou; Chaoyi Chen; Datao Xu; Ukadike Chris Ugbolue; Julien S Baker; Yaodong Gu Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-20 Impact factor: 3.390