Effects of sensorimotor foot orthoses on static balance in healthy adults: a crossover randomized controlled trial

TL;DR

This study finds that sensorimotor foot orthoses can improve static balance in healthy adults, potentially reducing the risk of falls and ankle sprains.

Contribution

The novel contribution is evidence that sensorimotor foot orthoses significantly enhance static balance performance in healthy adults.

Findings

Sensorimotor foot orthoses reduced sway area by 29.6% during closed-eye balance tests.

Static balance improved by 14.5% with sensorimotor foot orthoses compared to no orthoses.

Main effects showed significant improvements in balance related to vision and orthoses use.

Abstract

Sensorimotor foot orthoses (SMFO) may be a helpful intervention to improve balance by enhancing proprioceptive input within the sensorimotor control loop. SMFO intervention could have beneficial effects on reducing risk of ankle sprains and falls.

A total of 57 healthy adults (age: 48.5 ± 11.8 years) completed a static balance test (30 s) on a force plate, with open eyes (OE) and closed eyes (CE). Balance performance was assessed by using posturography to measure the sway area (mm2), under SMFO and no foot orthoses (NFO) conditions.

Descriptive statistics show a reduced median of 1.9 cm2 (29.6%) for SMFO with CE. No interaction was found, while main effects showed significant differences (vision: p < 0.001, sole: p = 0.004). post-hoc tests underlined these results and static balance improved by a median 0.8 cm2 (14.5%) with SMFO compared to NFO.

The SMFO seems to support static balance and sensorimotor system, which could help to avoid falls and injuries as ankle sprains. Further age groups, long-term effects and the impact on dynamic balance must be studied.

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