Textured Foot Orthotics on Dynamic Stability and Turning Performance in Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to facilitate sensory feedback, with textured foot orthotics, to evaluate dynamic stability and turning behavior in Parkinson’s disease individuals. Seven participants with a diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, aged 55–80 years old, participated in this study. Participants completed three testing sessions; baseline, 4 weeks post-baseline, and 5 weeks post-baseline. Three experimental conditions were tested: footwear only (F), footwear + non-textured orthotic (FO), and footwear + textured orthotic (FOT). Kinematic, kinetic, and video data were collected during the steps preceding a turn task. Variables of interest included dynamic stability (maximum mediolateral (ML), minimum ML, and ML range of the center of mass (COM)-base of support (BOS) relationship) and turning performance (gait velocity and step count). There was a statistically significant increase in maximum ML COM-BOS distance (week 4 [0.1298 m ± 0.054] compared to week 0 [0.1069 m ± 0.050] p = .0076), and a significant decrease in step count (week 0-F [5.52 steps ± 1.08] to week 0-FO [5.23 steps ± 0.87] p = .0296) and (week 4-FO [5.24 steps ± 1.31] to week 4–FOT [4.67 steps ± 0.76] p = .0004). Textured foot orthotics modified dynamic stability and turning performance in Parkinson’s disease individuals completing a 180° degree turn. These preliminary results support this potential treatment option for rehabilitation professionals treating Parkinson’s disease.

Keywords:

• Parkinson’s disease
• foot orthotics
• cutaneous sensation
• dynamic stability
• turns

Acknowledgement

All orthotics were supplied by Sole, Edge Marketing Corp; Calgary, AB, Canada. Sole orthotics was not involved in the data collection, analysis, interpretation of results, or in the decision to submit the article for publication.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Stephen Perry holds a patent for a balance-enhancing insole (Maki, Perry, McIlroy, US 6,237,256 B1, 2001) and is the CEO/CSO of Balancepro, Inc. that is involved in the commercialization of the ‘Balancepro’ insole. Kelly Robb is currently practicing as a Canadian Certified Pedorthist, and as research progresses, has intention of using textured orthoses in future clinical practice.

FUNDING

This work was supported by the Natural Science and Engineer Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant #1 under Grant RGPIN-2015-06481; and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation #2 under Grant 5141.

AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS

Conception of the study: Kelly A. Robb. Study organization: Kelly A. Robb, Stephen D. Perry. Acquisition of data/Study execution: Kelly A. Robb. Design of statistical analysis: Stephen D. Perry. Execution of statistical analysis: Kelly A. Robb. Review of statistical analysis: Kelly A. Robb, Stephen D. Perry. Critique of results/analysis: Stephen D. Perry. Writing first draft of manuscript: Kelly A. Robb. Manuscript review/revisions: Kelly A. Robb, Stephen D. Perry. Critique final draft: Stephen D. Perry. Final approval of submitted manuscript: Kelly A. Robb, Stephen D. Perry.