Shoe characteristics and balance in older women.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether shoe characteristics affect balance in older women.

DESIGN

Randomized order, cross-over, controlled comparison.

SETTING

A retirement village.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty women aged 60 to 89 years (mean 78.7 SD = 8.5). Twenty-five subjects were hostel residents, and five were living independently in the community.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Postural sway, maximal balance range, and co-ordinated stability.

MAIN RESULTS

The subjects underwent assessments of static balance (body sway) and dynamic balance (maximal balance range and co-ordinated stability) under four conditions: (1) barefoot, (2) in standard low-heeled shoes (walking shoes), (3) in standard high-heeled shoes, and (4) in their own shoes. Manova analysis revealed a significant overall shoe condition effect -- subjects performed best in bare feet or low-heeled shoes and worst in high-heeled shoes. There were no significant differences between subjects with and without foot abnormalities in any of the balance measures or test conditions.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that bare feet and walking shoes maximize balance, whereas high-heeled shoes constitute a needless balance hazard for older women.