Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of specially designed zori, a Japanese-style sandal, for enhancing walking performance. A total of 89 women aged 59-75 were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group wore the zori for 6 months while the control group did not. We conducted physical assessments, including The Good Walker’s Index, which consisted of a 10-m walking time measurement, maximal step length, the 40/20-cm step test and tandem gait, and measurement of the toe-gap force (TGF). Additionally, bare foot plantar pressure distribution was measured using a foot-mapping sensor, while gait characteristics were measured using three dimensional sensors. In the intervention group, means for TGF improved significantly between baseline and three months and between baseline and six months, but this improvement was not evident in the control group. In the intervention group, the means for pressure and surface areas of both left and right feet significantly decreased over time compared with the control group. Three-dimensional analysis found that left and right ankle height was enhanced in the intervention group, and their walking speed was improved by the extension of their stride length and an increase in the height of the tiptoe in one cycle. The findings in our study indicate that zori can be useful in improving lower leg function through TGF enhancement and adjustment of the pressure pattern.
Highlights
The ability to walk efficiently is very important for older people in terms of helping to reduce the risk of falling and allowing them to live as independently as possible within the community
To maintain walking ability in old age, studies have reported the effectiveness of regular physical activity [1, 8] and programs of regular physical exercise such as those to improve balance and muscle strength training [9]
It has been reported that Trail Making Test (TMT) B-A declines with age, and compared with a study of elderly Japanese [23], our subjects showed similar results
Summary
The ability to walk efficiently is very important for older people in terms of helping to reduce the risk of falling and allowing them to live as independently as possible within the community. The effectiveness of interventions with home exercise [10], water-based exercise [11], balance improvement through the use of video game exercises [12], and Tai Chi Quan training [13] for older populations has been studied. It is not easy for older adults, who only have limited opportunities for exercise or even activities outside the home, to maintain physical activity on a daily basis
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