The effect of shoes on static and dynamic balance performance

Abstract

Aim: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of shoes on static and dynamic balance performance and to investigate the relationships between strength parameters and balance. Methods: 34 students (22 males and 12 females) who studying at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University have participated in this study (Age:22.79±1.64 years, Height:171.65±8.04 cm; Body weight (BW):64.13±10.71 kg). Different dynamics and static balance tests were randomly measured with shoes and with bare feet after isometric strength measurements were performed. SPSS 16.0 software was used for the analysis of the data obtained. Since the data showed normal distribution, “Paired-Sample t-test” was used for differences between balance tests performed with shoes and bare feet. Furthermore, the relations between variables were tested with the “Pearson” correlation coefficient. Results: The study demonstrated t hat the stork test performed with shoes did not affect balance, whereas at the flamingo test with shoe showed a significant (p<0.00) effect on the balance. Furthermore, there were significant differences in the posterolateral direction in favour of bare feet while the right foot was in the ground at Y balance test (p <0.03). In addition, in the star balance test (SEBT), a significant difference was found in favour of the bare feet in the posterior direction (p<0.03), and a significant difference was found in reaching the anteromedial direction in favour of the shoe at same test (p<0.00). A moderate positive correlation was determined between Y balance test and leg strength, while the significant low correlation was also found between SEBT with leg strength. Conclusion: We can say that the shoe has a positive effect on balance only in the flamingo test. Furthermore, SEBT was mostly affected by leg strength performance, while static tests have no relations with leg strength.