Article

This pilot study examined the effect of custom and prefabricated foot
orthoses on self-selected walking speed, walking speed variability, and dynamic
balance in the mediolateral direction. METHODS: The gait of four healthy
participants was analyzed with a body-worn sensor system across a distance of at
least 30 m outside of the gait laboratory. Participants walked at their habitual
speed in four conditions: barefoot, regular shoes, prefabricated foot orthoses,
and custom foot orthoses. RESULTS: In the custom foot orthoses condition, gait
speed was improved on average 13.5% over the barefoot condition and 9.8% over the
regular shoe condition. The mediolateral range of motion of center of mass was
reduced 55% and 56% compared with the shoes alone and prefabricated foot orthoses
conditions, respectively. This may suggest better gait efficiency and lower
energy cost with custom foot orthoses. This tendency remained after normalizing
center of mass by gait speed, suggesting that irrespective of gait speed, custom
foot orthoses improve center of mass motion in the mediolateral direction
compared with other footwear conditions. Gait intercycle variability, measured by
intercycle coefficient of variation of gait speed, was decreased on average by
25% and 19% compared with the barefoot and shoes-alone conditions, respectively.
The decrease in gait unsteadiness after wearing custom foot orthoses may suggest
improved proprioception from the increased contact area of custom foot orthoses
versus the barefoot condition. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may open new avenues
for objective assessment of the impact of prescribed footwear on dynamic balance
and spatiotemporal parameters of gait and assess gait adaptation after use of
custom foot orthoses.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI