PAIRED PROFILES FOR ( length_c, length_w )
4.5
4.5
Mean
4.0 4.0
3.5 3.5
3.0 3.0
2.5 2.5
length_c
length_w
FIGURE 5
been reported to negatively impact gait by causing an
increased need for ankle dorsiflexion, a proprioceptive
modification necessary to hold the flip-flop on the
foot [2] . Ankle dorsiflexion to "retain" the flip-flop was
also shown in children [3] . TSCS have a strap in each
of the 4 interdigital spaces as opposed to a single strap
in the first interdigital space, which was designed
in order to help remedy this problem. In addition,
while the majority of thong style flip-flops have a
thin material to act as a thong between the first two
toes, the interdigital toe straps on TSCS are designed
with a thicker polyurethane foam that fits snuggly
in each of the four interdigital clefts. As an objective
measure, a significant increase in step length was
observed when comparing gait analysis of the control
and experimental conditions. The results of the gait
analysis demonstrates that the average step length is
significantly longer (p<0.0001) in TSCS as compared
to the control (Figure 5). The measured increased
step length may be due to the effect of the contoured
foot bed with the deep heel seat and arch support
mimicking a prefab orthoses, which “have been
shown to affect functional variables including lower-
extremity kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity
during locomotion [17] .” Escalona-Marfil suggests that
“a contoured sandal, designed with a similar foot bed
as a pre-fabricated foot orthosis, can provide the same
degree of support to the arch/midfoot region as a pre-
fabricated orthosis [18] .” As previously described, “with
adequate support across the plantar arch anatomic
alignment may be maintained via proprioceptive
adjustment [19] .”
Figure 5: Statistically Significant Increase in Step
Length with TSCS. Statistics: N=20; Average
difference=0.41; 95 % CI=(0.25, 0.58); p<0.0001
(see above)
Research has shown that quantifiable changes in gait
correspond to the perception of hazards ahead. When
Current Pedorthics | May/June 2018
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