Influence of stimuli delivered via the insole to different parts of the sole of the foot on center of pressure sway

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of stimuli delivered via the insole to different parts of the sole of the foot on center of pressure sway. [Subjects] Forty healthy persons who had no history of lower extremity pathologies participated in this study. [Method] Center of pressure sway was measured using a postural sway recorder under four experimental conditions: the whole part stimulus condition, the forefoot condition, the heel condition and the no stimulus condition as the control. An insole with convexes was used to stimulate the sole of the foot. In the no stimulus condition, the insole without convexes was used. [Results] Under the forefoot condition, the rectangular and circumferential areas, showed significantly lower values than the no stimulus condition. [Conclusion] This result suggests that stimulus applied to the sole of the forefoot using an insole might decrease the center of pressure sway.