Effects of plantar foot sensitivity manipulation on postural control of young adult and elderly

Abstract

Elderly subjects seem to rely more on foot sensitivity for control of body sway than young adults. In the elderly, a clinical intervention to improve foot sensitivity may help in upright posture maintenance.

The influence of age and overweight or obesity on foot sensitivity and postural control: A systematic review

“…[4][5][6]19,26,27 Older people presented worse foot sensitivity compared to young adults. [4][5][6]27 At issue is the fact that the impact of less accurate sensory information on body position for postural control in older people is task-dependent. Thus, less accurate proprioceptive information is more detrimental to postural stability, especially in more challenging tasks.…”

Effects of plantar sensitivity on balance and mobility in community‐dwelling older adults: A Turkish study

“… reported that plantar tactile sensitivity of first metatarsophalangeal joint affects balance and functional performance in older people. There are also studies indicating plantar tactile sensitivity reduction is associated with postural sway . However, some studies suggest that plantar sensitivity is moderately important for sustaining the upright balance and the effect of decreased plantar sensation on balance is compensated by other sensory systems .…”

Walking barefoot vs. with minimalist footwear – influence on gait in younger and older adults

“…Accordingly, [11] suggest that walking barefoot is less restricting for motion control, which increases the sensitivity of the sensory mechanisms and activates the foot and lower leg muscles. Both sensory feedback sensitivity [12] and increased foot strength [13] showed to improve balance in older adults, and are therefore significant predictors in the prevention of falls. Thus, barefoot walking might result in beneficial effects on sensorimotor control.…”