Hatton Anna L, Sturnieks Daina L, Lord Stephen R, Lo Joanne C M, Menz Hylton B, Menant Jasmine C
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2013 Nov-Dec;103(6):471-9. doi: 10.7547/1030471.
Slips are a common cause of falls, and nonslip socks have been marketed to prevent slips in older people. However, few studies have investigated the biomechanical and clinical effects of walking in nonslip socks. This study aimed to examine gait parameters in older people walking on a slippery surface wearing nonslip socks compared with standard sock and barefoot conditions.
Fifteen older people completed five trials of the fast-paced Timed Up and Go test while barefoot and while wearing standard socks and nonslip socks. Kinematic data (step length, heel horizontal velocity at heel strike, and foot-floor angle at heel strike) and clinical data (total Timed Up and Go test time, total number of steps, number of steps in turn, and observed slips, trips, or falls) were collected.
Performance on the Timed Up and Go test did not differ between the barefoot and nonslip sock conditions; however, participants walked more slowly and took shorter steps when wearing standard socks. Participants rated nonslip socks to feel less slippery than barefoot and standard socks.
Compared with wearing standard socks, wearing nonslip socks improves gait performance and may be beneficial in reducing the risk of slipping in older people.
滑倒为跌倒的常见原因，防滑袜已投放市场以预防老年人滑倒。然而，鲜有研究调查穿防滑袜行走的生物力学和临床效果。本研究旨在比较老年人在湿滑地面上穿防滑袜与穿标准袜子及赤足行走时的步态参数。
15名老年人在赤足、穿标准袜子和防滑袜的情况下完成了5次快节奏的计时起立行走测试。收集运动学数据（步长、足跟触地时足跟水平速度和足跟触地时足与地面夹角）和临床数据（计时起立行走测试总时间、总步数、转身步数以及观察到的滑倒、绊倒或跌倒情况）。
赤足和穿防滑袜情况下计时起立行走测试的表现无差异；然而，参与者穿标准袜子时行走速度更慢且步长更短。参与者认为防滑袜比赤足和标准袜子感觉更不易滑倒。
与穿标准袜子相比，穿防滑袜可改善步态表现，可能有助于降低老年人滑倒风险。
