Do minimalist shoes improve balance and foot strength in older adults?

摘要

30% of people over 65 years old and 50% of people over 80 years old have at least one fall per year (NICE, 2013). One avenue explored to attempt to reduce this fall risk is footwear. Minimalist footwear is a way to simulate walking barefooted, offering no constriction to the foot allowing it to function naturally whilst providing a protective surface. Aside from allowing the foot to spread it is suggested, the thin flat sole and absence of restricting motion control structures increases the sensitivity of the sensory mechanisms and better activates the foot and lower leg muscles (Mckeon, Hertel, Bramble, & Davis, 2015).