Effect of footwear midsole hardness and thickness on proprioception and stability in older men

Summary form only received: Falls in the elderly are a major health issue. A noted gerontologist asserts that elderly humans should wear footwear with hard soles because they optimize proprioceptive input-hence stability. The relations between proprioception and footwear sole properties, however, have never been examined objectively, yet such an examination seems justified because of the potential benefit to the public of footwear optimized for stability. The authors tested the relations between footwear midsole thickness and hardness, and foot position awareness in a sample of 13 older healthy men of mean age 72.6 years (min. 65 years; max. 84 years; SD 4.50). Subjects wore identical shoes except for thickness and hardness of midsole material which approximately spanned the respective ranges found in currently available footwear. The results obtained allow the authors to conclude that midsole hardness and thickness alter proprioception in older men. Further, the authors' data support the notion that footwear with thin-hard soles should be worn by the elderly because they optimize proprioceptive input and stability, and athletic footwear and many modern walking shoes may represent safety hazards for this cohort.