Effect of Insoles with a Toe-Grip Bar on Toe Function and Standing Balance in Healthy Young Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective The aim of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the effects of insoles with a toe-grip bar on toe function and standing balance in healthy young women. Methods Thirty female subjects were randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group wore shoes with insoles with a toe-grip bar. The control group wore shoes with general insoles. Both groups wore the shoes for 4 weeks, 5 times per week, 9 hours per day. Toe-grip strength, toe flexibility, static balance (total trajectory length and envelope area of the center of pressure), and dynamic balance (functional reach test) were measured before and after the intervention. Results Significant interactions were observed for toe-grip strength and toe flexibility (F = 12.53, p < 0.01; F = 5.84, p < 0.05, resp.), with significant improvement in the intervention group compared with that in the control group. Post hoc comparisons revealed that both groups showed significant improvement in toe-grip strength (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, resp.), with higher benefits observed for the intervention group (p < 0.01). Conversely, no significant interaction was observed in the total trajectory length, envelope area, and functional reach test. Conclusions This study suggests that insoles with a toe-grip bar contribute to improvements in toe-grip strength and toe flexibility in healthy young women.

Effects of Long-Term Use of Insoles with a Toe-Grip Bar on the Balance, Walking, and Running of Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The intervention group wore shoes with insoles with a toe-grip bar [18,19]. The mid and rear parts of the insole were made of synthetic resin foam, and the toe section was made from synthetic fiber with high repulsion properties (known as three-dimensional mesh).…”

“…During the terminal stance phase of walking, the toes perceived the toe-grip bar and the reflex toe-grip movement was increased. The toe-grip movement occurred subconsciously while the participant was walking, resulting in improved toe-grip strength [18,19].…”

“…However, if this training is not performed regularly, then it is difficult to maintain the beneficial effects. As a solution to this problem, insoles with a toe-grip bar have been developed recently that improve the toe-grip strength while the individual is walking [18,19]. According to previous studies, the toe-grip bar, which is a convex structure, is placed at the central part of the proximal phalanx from the first to the fifth toe.…”

“…During the terminal stance phase of walking, the toes perceive the toe-grip bar and the reflex toegrip movement is increased. The toe-grip movement occurs subconsciously when the individual walks, resulting in improved toe-grip strength [18,19]. It has been reported that the toe-grip strength and toe flexibility of healthy individuals who wore insoles with a toe-grip bar experienced significant improvement after the intervention compared to healthy individuals who wore general insoles [18].…”

“…The toe-grip movement occurs subconsciously when the individual walks, resulting in improved toe-grip strength [18,19]. It has been reported that the toe-grip strength and toe flexibility of healthy individuals who wore insoles with a toe-grip bar experienced significant improvement after the intervention compared to healthy individuals who wore general insoles [18]. Moreover, it was reported that the toe-grip strength and body sway of the elderly significantly improved after the intervention phase that involved insoles with a toe-grip bar compared with after the baseline phase that involved general insoles [19].…”