title: Influence of wearing an unstable shoe on thigh and leg muscle activity and venous response in upright standing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the effect of unstable shoe wearing on muscle activity and haemodynamic response during standing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty volunteers were divided into 2 groups: the experimental group wore an unstable shoe for 8 weeks, while the control group used a conventional shoe for the same period. Muscle activity of the medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris and biceps femoris and venous circulation were assessed in quiet standing with the unstable shoe and barefoot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first measurement there was an increase in medial gastrocnemius activity in all volunteers while wearing the unstable shoe. On the other hand, after wearing the unstable shoe for eight weeks these differences were not verified. Venous return increased in subjects wearing the unstable shoe before and after training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The unstable shoe produced changes in electromyographic characteristics which were advantageous for venous circulation even after training accommodation by the neuromuscular system.
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior da Tecnologia de Saúde do Porto, Área Científica de Fisioterapia, Centro de Estudos de Movimento e Actividade Humana, Rua Valente Perfeito, 322, 4400-330 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. asp@estsp.ipp.pt
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: João Manuel R S
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Albano Manuel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Rubim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D012775:Shoes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013848:Thigh / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult