Treading Lightly: The Effects of Textured Insoles on Postural Control and Locomotor Adaptation

The current program of work explores the potential efficacy of textured insoles for improving biomechanical performance and cognitive acuity during static and dynamic performance. Despite the vast conceptual framework supporting the versatile benefits of textured insoles, the current literature has primarily focused on incorporating this treatment during low-phase movements within the diseased and elderly subset populations. The current study expands this research application by administering textured insole treatments to a healthy population during a physically demanding dynamic assessment and correlating the results to subjects' sensory perception. A convenience sample of 10 subjects was evaluated for their ability to maintain bilateral standing balance in a static condition and adapt to confined lane perturbations during standard track running. These evaluations were conducted under both control and textured insole conditions. Subjects also completed a visual analog scale test, rating the insole treatments based on surface roughness to establish a statistical relationship between individual perception and biomechanical performance. Results showed that textured insole treatments given intermediate ratings of perceived surface roughness significantly enhanced performance during bilateral standing balance and standard track running perturbation adaptation.