Background
Methods
Participants
Questionnaire and clinical assessment
Falls risk assessment
Balance and walking stability assessment
Footwear conditions
Footwear assessment
Statistical analysis
Results
Participant characteristics
Age, mean (SD) years | 73.4 (3.9) |
Height, mean (SD) cm | 159.6 (6.0) |
Weight, mean (SD) kg | 67.9 (14.7) |
Body mass index, mean (SD) kg/m2 | 26.6 (5.1) |
Major medical conditions | |
Heart disease | 2 (10) |
Diabetes | 1 (5) |
Stroke | 4 (20) |
Osteoarthritis | 10 (50) |
High blood pressure | 11 (55) |
Short Form-12 Version 2a | |
Role – physical, mean (SD) | 46.8 (10.1) |
Role – mental, mean (SD) | 54.3 (9.2) |
Incidental and Planned Exercise Questionnaire total, mean (SD) hours/week | 34.4 (11.1) |
QuickScreen falls risk assessment | |
At least one falls risk factor | 20 (100) |
Fallen in past 12 months | 4 (20) |
Use of 4 or more medications | 9 (45) |
Use of psychotropic medications | 1 (5) |
Impaired visual acuity | 20 (100) |
Impaired peripheral sensation | 3 (15) |
Failed near tandem stance test | 3 (15) |
Failed alternate step test | 6 (30) |
Failed sit-to-stand test | 2 (10) |
Falls Efficacy Scale International, mean (SD)b | 21.5 (5.2) |
Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnairec | |
Total index score, mean (SD) | 18.8 (21.3) |
Pain, mean (SD) | 22.8 (24.7) |
Walking / standing, mean (SD) | 18.4 (21.7) |
Social interaction, mean (SD | 14.4 (18.5) |
Effects of footwear on balance
Supportive footwear | Minimalist footwear | Cohen’s d | Interpretation | P-value | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mean (SD) | median (IQR) | mean (SD) | median (IQR) | ||||
Balance | |||||||
Postural sway, eyes open on the floor | 172 (335) | 81 (77) | 135 (152) | 78 (88) | 0.14 | small | 0.320* |
Postural sway, eyes closed on the floor | 88 (46) | 74 (76) | 68 (56) | 47 (52) | 0.36 | medium | 0.057* |
Postural sway, eyes open on the foam | 663 (619) | 460 (566) | 533 (385) | 456 (434) | 0.26 | medium | 0.099* |
Postural sway, eyes closed on the foam | 3,824 (8,146) | 913 (737) | 4,750 (6,062) | 1,405 (13,202) | 0.13 | small | 0.324† |
Near tandem stance | 929 (972) | 429 (955) | 760 (878) | 514 (522) | 0.19 | small | 0.204* |
Walking stability | |||||||
Walking stability, treadmill | 3,891 (2,917) | 2,745 (2,175) | 16,377 (53,923) | 2,809 (2,134) | 0.34 | medium | 0.157† |
Walking stability, level surface | 20,264 (16,077) | 13,395 (12,703) | 24,060 (28,598) | 14,301 (10,661) | 0.17 | small | 0.236† |
Walking stability, irregular surface | 21,812 (12,398) | 17,364 (12,256) | 29,463 (32,038) | 16,526 (10,870) | 0.32 | medium | 0.141† |
Effects of footwear on walking stability
Perceptions of footwear
Supportive footwear | Minimalist footwear | Cohen’s d | Interpretation | P-value | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monitor Orthopaedic Shoes Questionnairea | |||||
Attractiveness to self | 80.0 (19.0) | 62.1 (30.9) | 0.72 | large | 0.011* |
Attractiveness to others | 77.2 (19.1) | 56.9 (30.6) | 0.82 | very large | 0.010* |
Comfort | 61.2 (25.4) | 65.1 (30.2) | 0.14 | small | 0.656 |
Fit | 84.9 (10.3) | 74.5 (24.8) | 0.56 | large | 0.081 |
Ease of donning and doffing | 90.3 (8.3) | 80.4 (16.6) | 0.77 | large | 0.009* |
Heaviness | 27.7 (18.5) | 6.8 (9.6) | 1.45 | huge | 0.001† |
Comfort scaleb | |||||
Overall | 64.6 (23.7) | 62.0 (30.4) | 0.10 | small | 0.752 |
Heel cushioning | 83.5 (9.7) | 53.8 (33.6) | 1.23 | huge | < 0.001* |
Forefoot cushioning | 52.2 (30.1) | 52.1 (29.2) | 0.00 | very small | 0.932 |
Medio-lateral control | 76.0 (23.2) | 56.9 (28.5) | 0.75 | large | 0.048* |
Arch height | 79.2 (32.4) | 43.0 (16.3) | 1.45 | huge | < 0.001* |
Heel cup fit | 87.0 (7.8) | 64.8 (32.8) | 0.96 | very large | 0.004* |
Shoe heel width | 85.9 (9.8) | 73.4 (23.4) | 0.71 | large | 0.013* |
Shoe forefoot width | 82.3 (17.2) | 68.4 (26.9) | 0.63 | large | 0.017* |
Shoe length | 83.8 (12.4) | 78.9 (15.8) | 0.35 | medium | 0.182 |