[Balance therapy shoes - a comparative analysis with respect to immediate training effects].
BACKGROUND
Manufacturers attribute specific shoes and sole construction to induce neuromuscular training. Thus injury prevention or rehabilitation from injury is aimed.


OBJECTIVE
H1=Different shoe and sole construction result in different load to the neuromuscular system and postural control.


METHODS
Controlled laboratory study.


METHODS
10 healthy subjects were tested postural stabilization using a force plate and EMG-recordings. First each person performed three 20 sec single leg unshod stance trial (control condition). Then MBT shoe, Finnamic-Rollenschuh and ReflexControl were applied and tested in a randomized order.


RESULTS
No difference in the EMG- activity was detected comparing the barefoot condition with MBT and Finnamic-Rollenschuh (p=0,051-1,000). However with one exception (barefoot M. gastrocnemius. EMG-activity; p=0,110) putting on the ReflexControl shoe increased the EMG-activity relative to all three tested muscles and shoe/barefoot conditions (p=0,000-0,001). Moreover, the ReflexControl shoe led to a highly significantly higher postural sway (p=0,000-0,072), while MBT, Finnamic-Rollenschuh and barefoot conditions were not statistically different (p=0,818-1,000).


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that during upright stance the ReflexControl shoe is a means for neuromuscular training, while MBT and Finnamic-Rollenschuh simulate barefoot stance.
Institut Frankfurt am Main, Otto-Fleck-Schneise, Frankfurt/Main. lohrer@sport.uni-frankfurt.de
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Turbanski
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Nauck
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Schmidtbleicher
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012775:Shoes; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires