Standing in an unstable shoe increases postural sway and muscle activity of selected smaller extrinsic foot muscles

Landry, Scot T. C.; Nigg, Benno M.; Tecante, Karelia

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2010.04.018

Cited by 103 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The results of these studies showed that COP excursions significantly increased in the two-legged stance conditions, for both the anterior-posterior and the medial-lateral direction when comparing the unstable (MBT) condition to the barefoot condition Landry et al, 2010). This result is demonstrated using illustrative data for one subject (Fig.…”

Section: Static Stability (Standing In Unstable Shoes)mentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Other studies addressed the effects of unstable footwear on posture (New & Pearce, 2007). Some studies discussed the effects of unstable shoes on pressure distribution (Stewart et al, 2007;Bochdansky et al, 2008;Maetzler et al, 2008) and other studies addressed training effects with unstable shoes (Kraus et al, 2006;Korsten et al, 2008;Lohrer et al, 2008;Korsten et al, 2010;Landry et al, 2010). However, this review will concentrate on some specific claims that have been made about the effects produced by unstable shoes.…”

Section: The Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Unstable shoes: functional concepts and scientific evidence

et al. 2012

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This file was dowloaded from the institutional repository Brage NIH -brage.bibsys.no/nih Nigg, B., Federolf, P., von Tscharner, V., Nigg, S. (2012 AbstractThe purpose of this paper is (a) to discuss the conceptual idea behind the development of unstable footwear and (b) to discuss the validity and scientific support of some selected claims made with respect to unstable shoes. Concept:Unstable shoes are built to provide a trainings device that uses instability as a strategy to train and strengthen muscles in the human locomotor system.Specific Claims: 1. Ample evidence circumstantiates that unstable shoes currently on the market produce a substantial and significant increase of instability. The effects are most evident during standing but are also apparent in gait. 2. Unstable shoes induce an increase of activity in certain muscles in about 80 % of the population. The affected muscles change between different subjects. The highest relative increases were found in the small muscles crossing the ankle joint complex. 3. "Muscle toning" is, from a scientific point of view, not well defined and experimental data associating "muscle toning" with unstable shoes are not available. 4. There is evidence that unstable shoes improve the static balance performance of users whose balance skills are comparatively low. However, if the balance skills of a person are already good, then training effects through the use of unstable shoes are not detectable. 5. There is indirect evidence that unstable shoes reduce forces in the joints of the lower extremities. 6. There is conclusive evidence that unstable shoes can reduce the level of perceived pain. This has been confirmed in subjects suffering from pain in the knee joint and for subjects with low back pain.Based on the results of this overview it seems that unstable shoes are associated with several possible benefits. It also seems that the effects are not consistent between different subjects. In our experience, positive effects can be shown for about 80 % of the test subjects.3

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Section: Static Stability (Standing In Unstable Shoes)mentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: The Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unstable shoes: functional concepts and scientific evidence

et al. 2012

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“…Recently, manufacturers have introduced specific shoes featuring unstable sole constructions to induce similar neuromuscular training stimuli. Previous research reported that these shoes improved reactive balance in children with development disabilities [6], improved static and dynamic balance in adults with osteoarthritis [7] and in middle-aged adults [8,9], and also in young subjects in dynamic conditions like standing on a moveable platform [10]. Electromyography studies revealed changes in the ankle joint during quiet standing [8,11], gait and running [12,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Previous research reported that these shoes improved reactive balance in children with development disabilities [6], improved static and dynamic balance in adults with osteoarthritis [7] and in middle-aged adults [8,9], and also in young subjects in dynamic conditions like standing on a moveable platform [10]. Electromyography studies revealed changes in the ankle joint during quiet standing [8,11], gait and running [12,13]. These are important findings since standing sway is highly correlated with ankle joint rotation, as muscles crossing this joint are able to provide the sensory information required to maintain upright standing [14,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Influence of long-term wearing of unstable shoes on compensatory control of posture: An electromyography-based analysis

et al. 2014

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Purpose: This study investigated the influence of long-term wearing of unstable shoes (WUS) on compensatory postural adjustments (CPA) to an external perturbation.Methods: Participants were divided into two groups: one wore unstable shoes while the other wore conventional shoes for 8 weeks. The ground reaction force signal was used to calculate the anterior-posterior (AP) displacement of the centre of pressure (CoP) and the electromyographic signal of gastrocnemius medialis (GM), tibialis anterior (TA), rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles was used to assess individual muscle activity, antagonist co-activation and reciprocal activation at the joint (TA/GM and RF/(BF+GM) pairs) and muscle group levels (ventral (TA+RF)/dorsal (GM+BF) pair) within time intervals typical for CPA. The electromyographic signal was also used to assess muscle latency. The variables described were evaluated before and after the 8-week period while wearing the unstable shoes and barefoot. Results: Long-term WUS led to: an increase of BF activity in both conditions (barefoot and wearing the unstable shoes); a decrease of GM activity; an increase of antagonist co-activation and a decrease of reciprocal activation level at the TA/GM and ventral/dorsal pairs in the unstable shoe condition. Additionally, WUS led to a decrease in CoP displacement. However, no differences were observed in muscle onset and offset. Conclusion: Results suggest that the prolonged use of unstable shoes leads to increased ankle and muscle groups' antagonist co-activation levels and higher performance by the postural control system.

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“…However, divergence exists as to the benefits from wearing this kind of shoes on postural control. Previous research has demonstrated that wearing this kind of unstable shoes regularly leads to changes in muscle activity level, mainly at the ankle joint, during upright standing (Sousa et al, 2012) and to decreased centre of pressure (CoP) excursion in young subjects (Landry et al, 2010); although no changes have been observed in the mean velocity of the CoP in mid-aged women (Ramstrand et al, 2010), neither in the CoP excursion in one-leg stance in young subjects (Turbanski et al, 2011). This divergence could result from the few parameters analysed, as a larger set of measures is required to detect differences in postural control (Pavol, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of prolonged wearing of unstable shoes on upright standing postural control

Sousa

Macedo

Santos

et al. 2016

Human Movement Science

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Objective: To study the influence of prolonged wearing of unstable shoes on standing postural control in prolonged standing workers. Methods:The participants were divided into two groups: one wore unstable shoes while the other wore conventional shoes for 8 weeks. Stabilometry parameters related to centre of pressure (CoP), rambling (RM) and trembling (TR) as well as the total agonist/antagonist muscle activity, antagonist co-activation and reciprocal activation were evaluated during upright standing, before and after the 8 week period. In both moments, the subjects were evaluated wearing the unstable shoes and in barefoot. Results:The unstable shoe condition presented increased CoP displacement related variables and decreased co-activation command compared to barefoot before and after the intervention. The prolonged wearing of unstable shoes led to: (1) reduction of medial-lateral CoP root mean square and area; (2) decreased anteroposterior RM displacement; (3) increased anteroposterior RM mean velocity and mediolateral RM displacement; (4) decreased anteroposterior TR RMS; and (5) increased thigh antagonist co-activation in the unstable shoe condition. Conclusion:The unstable shoe condition is associated to a higher destabilizing effect that leads to a selection of more efficient and accurate postural commands compared to barefoot.Prolonged wearing of unstable shoes provides increased effectiveness and performance of the postural control system, while wearing of unstable shoes in upright standing, that are reflected by changes in CoP related variables and by a reorganization of postural control commands.

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Standing in an unstable shoe increases postural sway and muscle activity of selected smaller extrinsic foot muscles

Cited by 103 publications

References 25 publications

Unstable shoes: functional concepts and scientific evidence

Unstable shoes: functional concepts and scientific evidence

Influence of long-term wearing of unstable shoes on compensatory control of posture: An electromyography-based analysis

Influence of prolonged wearing of unstable shoes on upright standing postural control

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