Minimal shoes improve stability and mobility in persons with a history of falls

Cudejko, Tomasz, Gardiner, James, Akpan, Asangaedem and D'Aout, Kristiaan ORCID: 0000-0002-6043-7744 (2020) Minimal shoes improve stability and mobility in persons with a history of falls SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 10 (1). 21755-. ISSN 2045-2322, 2045-2322

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Text Cudejko et al (2020) Sci Rep - older fallers stability minimal shoes.pdf - Published version Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Postural and walking instabilities contribute to falls in older adults. Given that shoes affect human locomotor stability and that visual, cognitive and somatosensory systems deteriorate during aging, we aimed to: (1) compare the effects of footwear type on stability and mobility in persons with a history of falls, and (2) determine whether the effect of footwear type on stability is altered by the absence of visual input or by an additional cognitive load. Thirty participants performed standing and walking trials in three footwear conditions, i.e. conventional shoes, minimal shoes, and barefoot. The outcomes were: (1) postural stability (movement of the center of pressure during eyes open/closed), (2) walking stability (Margin of Stability during normal/dual-task walking), (3) mobility (the Timed Up and Go test and the Star Excursion Balance test), and (4) perceptions of the shoes (Monitor Orthopaedic Shoes questionnaire). Participants were more stable during standing and walking in minimal shoes than in conventional shoes, independent of visual or walking condition. Minimal shoes were more beneficial for mobility than conventional shoes and barefoot. This study supports the need for longitudinal studies investigating whether minimal footwear is more beneficial for fall prevention in older people than conventional footwear.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Walking, Equipment Design, Cognition, Sensation, Accidental Falls, Aging, Locomotion, Visual Acuity, Shoes, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Postural Balance, Biomechanical Phenomena
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	11 Dec 2020 09:25
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 15:05
DOI:	10.1038/s41598-020-78862-6
Open Access URL:	https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-78862-6
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3109903
Disclaimer:	The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.