title: Altering gait by way of stimulation of the plantar surface of the foot: the immediate effect of wearing textured insoles in older fallers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence suggests that textured insoles can alter gait and standing balance by way of enhanced plantar tactile stimulation. However, to date, this has not been explored in older people at risk of falling. This study investigated the immediate effect of wearing textured insoles on gait and double-limb standing balance in older fallers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty older adults >65 years (21 women, mean [SD] age 79.0 [7.1]), with self-reported history of ≥2 falls in the previous year, conducted tests of level-ground walking over 10 m (GAITRite system), and double-limb standing with eyes open and eyes closed over 30 seconds (Kistler force platform) under two conditions: wearing textured insoles (intervention) and smooth (control) insoles in their usual footwear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wearing textured insoles caused significantly lower gait velocity (P = 0.02), step length (P = 0.04) and stride length (P = 0.03) compared with wearing smooth insoles. No significant differences were found in any of the balance parameters (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A textured insole worn by older adults with a history of falls significantly lowers gait velocity, step length and stride length, suggesting that this population may not have an immediate benefit from this type of intervention. The effects of prolonged wear remain to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Health & Rehabilitation Research Institute, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand. krome@aut.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hatton
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rome
authors.forename: Julia L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Denis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Martin