Effects on the gait cycle analysis and postural stability analysis of a thin mechanical stimulation on the plantar arch applied on a sample of healthy subjects.

Proprioceptive Effects Of The Mechanical Stimulation By An Internal And External Heel Wedge: Modification Of The Functional Relationships On The Gait Cycle And Postural Stability.

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12619001759189

Enrollment

Registered

2019-12-11

Start date

2019-12-16

Completion date

2019-12-27

Last updated

2020-01-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

This study aims to verify if the insertion of an Internal Heel Wedge (IHW) and External Heel Wedge (EHW) can modify the stabilometric and podobarometric variables, the functional changes during the gait cycle, the different responses between the dominating lower limb and the non-dominating lower limb, and the potential temporal summations of the proprioceptive stimulation. The IHW and EHW will be made out of a cork half-moon with a 1.5mm thickness, 6cm length and 3cm height. The sequence of tests wil be performed without IHW or EHW (Baseline), trials with IHW or EHW (Acute), trials after an adaptation period of 15 minutes on a treadmill with IHW or EHW (after 15’). We hypothesize that a thin mechanical stimulation placed on the plantar arch will be enough to produce functional changes during the gait cycle, and improve postural stability.

Interventions

This study aimed to verify if the insertion of an Internal Heel Wedge (IHW) and External Heel Wedge (EHW) could modify the stabilometric and podobarometric variables, functional changes during the gait cycle, different responses between the dominating lower limb and non-dominating lower limb and potential temporal summations of the proprioceptive stimulation. The IHW and EHW will be made out of a cork half-moon having a thickness of 1.5 mm, length of 6 cm and height of 3 cm and will be worn on both feet: in the first instance with IHW on both feet and then with EHW on both feet. The duration of the intervention will be 15 minutes and will be administered by university researchers. The duration of time between the first trials (with Internal Heel Wedge) and the second trials (with External Heel Wedge) will be of 1 week. In this way we foresee two visit with the subjects recruited. The sequence of tests will be performed without IHW or EHW (Baseline), trials with IHW or EHW (Acute), trials after an adaptation period of 15 minutes on a treadmill with IHW or EHW (after 15’). There will be 2 period of adaptations to the mechanical stimulation: first with Internal Heel Wedge, then with External Heel Wedge. The period of adaptations will be performed on a treadmill, where the subjects will walk for 15 minutes at the speed of 4km/h and a 0° inclination.

Study design

Allocation

Non-randomised trial

Primary purpose

Treatment

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

25 Years to 45 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

Right dominating lower limb.

Exclusion criteria

Presence of dysmorphic features of the spine and lower limbs, recent fractures of the skeleton of the lower extremities, neurological diseases, recent muscular injuries.

Outcome results