Changes in muscular activation patterns produced by a toning shoe during treadmill walking and quiet standing

Abstract

Background: Recently a new shoe design with air compartments at the insole has been developed and termed as toning shoes. However, it is unclear how this air compartments-based shoe could affect muscle activation and centre of pressure during treadmill walking or quiet standing.Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare muscular activation during treadmill walking and quiet standing between toning shoes and regular shoes.Methods: Ten participants performed treadmill walking at 4.5 km.h−1 and unipodal standing wearing regular shoes and toning shoes in random order. Mean muscular activation of seven muscles from preferred lower limb (tibialis anterior, soleus, peroneus brevis, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius medialis, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris) at different phases of the gait cycle (first half of contact, second half of contact and balance time) were assessed and compared between regular and toning shoes. Coefficient of variation and centre of pressure were calculated for temporal parameters and compared between regular and toning shoes.Principal results: Toning shoes led to higher coefficient of variation (20% during contact time; 15% during balance time), which may indicate a more unstable walking dynamic. Furthermore, the main muscular activation outcome was a 7% higher activation for rectus femoris and 7% lower activation for vastus lateralis at first half of contact time and higher activation for vastus lateralis (8%) and lower activation for rectus femoris (15%) at second half of contact time. Centre of pressure excursion and muscular activation during standing presented no significant differences.Conclusion: Toning shoe usage is increasing among the population and a better knowledge of effects on muscular activation and postural balance is fundamental. Toning shoes use resulted in a change in muscular activation during treadmill walking mainly for the quadriceps muscle. Some other muscle groups showed small differences in muscular activation patterns. There were no differences in postural balance and muscular activity during quiet standing with toning shoes use.