title: The effect of torsional shoe flexibility on gait and stability in children learning to walk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of different torsional flexibilities of shoes on gait and stability in children who are newly walking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five children walking 5 months or less were evaluated barefoot and in 4 shoes with different torsional flexibilities (UltraFlex, MidFlex, LowFlex, and Stiff). Gait pattern was assessed using GaitMatII. Stability was determined by the number of stumbles/falls during functional tasks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stance time was shorter barefoot compared with all shoe conditions (P = .000). Stance time was shorter in UltraFlex than in LowFlex (P = .000). Step width was wider in UltraFlex than in MidFlex and LowFlex (P = .028). Velocity, step length, and the number of stumbles/falls did not differ significantly across shoe conditions. Children walking for 2 months or less had significantly more stumbles and falls than children walking more than 2 months (P = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stance time and step width differ across shoe conditions. Stability does not differ across shoe conditions.
authors.affiliation: Leon Root MD, Motion Analysis Laboratory (Dr Buckland, Dr Slevin, Ms Hafer, and Mr Kraszewski), Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York; California College of Podiatric Medicine (Dr Choate), Oakland, California.
authors.forename: Melanie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Buckland
authors.forename: Corinne M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Slevin
authors.forename: Jocelyn F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hafer
authors.forename: Cherri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choate
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kraszewski
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018583:Pliability; D012775:Shoes; D016138:Walking