RECRUITING Not applicable ClinicalTrials.gov

Foot Strengthening to Improve Balance and Gait in Older Adults

Sponsor: Indiana University • ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07384754

Registry updated: 2026-08-19

Recruiting for Similar Conditions?

Sponsors are looking for patients like you. See if you qualify for compensated research studies.

Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether different foot-strengthening strategies can improve foot strength, balance, walking ability, and fall-related outcomes in middle-aged and older adults (ages 45-85 years). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does foot strength change from baseline after an 8-week foot-strengthening intervention? * Do balance, gait, and physical function improve following different foot-strengthening approaches? Researchers will compare minimalist footwear use, a foot exercise program, a foot-strengthening device (ToePro), and no intervention to see if these interventions lead to greater improvements in foot strength, balance, gait, and fall-related outcomes than no intervention. Participants will: * Complete baseline and post-intervention laboratory testing of foot strength, balance, physical function, and walking gait * Perform foot strengthening exercises or wear minimalist footwear (if applicable) five days/week for eight weeks * Complete daily logs to record intervention compliance

Interventions

Minimalist footwear (Device)
Habitual use of low-cushion, low-structure footwear designed to increase intrinsic foot muscle engagement during daily activities.
Foot strengthening exercises (Behavioral)
Home-based exercises including toe flexion, toe press, and arch-control movements performed several times per week.
ToePro foot strengthening device (Device)
A dense foam exercise platform designed to strengthen intrinsic foot muscles through loaded toe press exercises in lengthened muscle positions.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy adults: 45 years of age or older * Able to walk without an assistive walking device or lower limb prosthesis for at least 6 minutes * No history of foot or ankle surgery * No history of regular minimalist footwear use * No foot or ankle issues for which study activities may be contraindicated * BMI \<= 40 Exclusion Criteria: * Deemed unfit for physical activity by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) * Current or history of an unresolved musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary/respiratory, metabolic, renal condition, disease, or problem * Use of orthotics in daily (i.e., non-athletic) footwear * Pregnancy * Any other disease or problems that may affect movement or the ability to exercise even at a low intensity

Conditions

Minimalist Footwear Traditional Foot Exercise Program Foot Strengthening Device (ToePro) Control Condition

Locations

School of Public Health-Bloomington — Bloomington, Indiana, United States

Partner with Nurenyx

Showcase your study to thousands of motivated patients matching your criteria.

Learn More

Official Source

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

View Official Record

Accelerate Your Clinical Trial Recruitment