The effect of wearing an insole with an arch pad on postural stability

Background: It is not clear if wearing insole would help injured athlete and elderly people. The aim of this study was to investigate an effect of a commercially available shoe insole on postural stability in healthy young adults. Methods: The subjects were 22 college student (20±4 yrs old, mean±standard deviation (S.D.), 14 males, 8 females). We measured their foot and sole shape and also studied effects of wearing insole on postural stability by using a stabilograph, when they stood still for 30sec on their dominant leg with eyes opened. Results: The length of the right foot was shorter than that of the left one (246±19 vs. 245±18mm).The circumference of the foot became larger (right foot; 227±12 to 236±15 mm, left foot; 226±13 to 235±16 mm) and the arch height became smaller (right foot; 50±11 to 46±9 mm, left foot; 50±11 to 44±9mm) without difference between right and left, when they were standing compared with the sitting condition. There was no difference in the circumference, width, arch height of their foot between right and left. Finally, there was no apparent effect of wearing insole on any variables with respect to postural stability. Conclusion: Wearing insole would not help postural stability in healthy young college student. However, it is still remains to be clear if wearing such an insole for a long term would help to form the arch of feet and then help to reduce lower extremity disorder or stress