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Qiu F, Cole MH, Davids KW, Hennig EM, Silburn PA, Netscher H, Kerr GK. Effects of textured insoles on balance in people with Parkinson's disease. PLoS One 2013; 8:e83309. [PMID: 24349486 PMCID: PMC3861492 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 11/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Degradation of the somatosensory system has been implicated in postural instability and increased falls risk for older people and Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Here we demonstrate that textured insoles provide a passive intervention that is an inexpensive and accessible means to enhance the somatosensory input from the plantar surface of the feet. Methods 20 healthy older adults (controls) and 20 participants with PD were recruited for the study. We evaluated effects of manipulating somatosensory information from the plantar surface of the feet using textured insoles. Participants performed standing tests, on two different surfaces (firm and foam), under three footwear conditions: 1) barefoot; 2) smooth insoles; and 3) textured insoles. Standing balance was evaluated using a force plate yielding data on the range of anterior-posterior and medial-lateral sway, as well as standard deviations for anterior-posterior and medial-lateral sway. Results On the firm surface with eyes open both the smooth and textured insoles reduced medial-lateral sway in the PD group to a similar level as the controls. Only the textured insole decreased medial-lateral sway and medial-lateral sway standard deviation in the PD group on both surfaces, with and without visual input. Greatest benefits were observed in the PD group while wearing the textured insoles, and when standing on the foam surface with eyes closed. Conclusions Data suggested that textured insoles may provide a low-cost means of improving postural stability in high falls-risk groups, such as people with PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Qiu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Brain Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Movement Neuroscience Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail: (FQ); (GK)
| | - Michael H. Cole
- Movement Neuroscience Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Keith W. Davids
- Movement Neuroscience Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Sports Engineering Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Ewald M. Hennig
- Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Peter A. Silburn
- Movement Neuroscience Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Heather Netscher
- International Children’s Orthotic Laboratory, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Graham K. Kerr
- Movement Neuroscience Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail: (FQ); (GK)
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Qiu F, Cole MH, Davids KW, Hennig EM, Silburn PA, Netscher H, Kerr GK. Enhanced somatosensory information decreases postural sway in older people. Gait Posture 2012; 35:630-5. [PMID: 22245163 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2011] [Revised: 12/08/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The somatosensory system plays an important role in balance control and age-related declines in somatosensory function have been implicated in falls incidence. Different types of insole devices have been developed to enhance somatosensory information and improve postural stability. However, they are often too complex and expensive to integrate into daily life and textured insole surfaces may provide an inexpensive and accessible means to enhance somatosensory input. This study investigated the effects of textured insole surfaces on postural sway in ten younger and seven older participants performing standing balance tests on a force plate under three insole surface conditions: (1) barefoot; (2) with hard; and (3), soft textured insole surfaces. With each insole surface, participants were tested under two vision conditions (eyes open, closed) on two standing surfaces (firm, foam). Four 30s trials were collected for different combinations of insole surface, standing surface and vision. Centre of pressure measurements included the range and standard deviation of anterior-posterior and medial-lateral displacement, path length and the 90% confidence elliptical area. Results revealed a significant Group*Surface*Insole interaction for five of the dependent variables. Compared to younger individuals, postural sway was greater in older people on both standing surfaces in the barefoot condition. However, both textured insole surfaces reduced postural sway for the older group especially in the eyes closed condition on a foam surface. These findings suggest that textured insole surfaces can reduce postural sway in older people, particularly during more challenging balance tasks. Textured insole surfaces may afford a low-cost means of decreasing postural sway, providing an important intervention in falls prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Qiu
- Movement Neuroscience Program, Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Domain, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Netscher H. 74 Appraisal of physical activities suitable for children with joint hypermobility. J Sci Med Sport 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/s1440-2440(17)30569-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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