Effests of Minimalist Footwear on Healthy Subjects.

Plain-language summary

Introduction: There is evidence showing that wearing minimalist footwear offers multiple short-term advantages for the musculoskeletal system, both locally and regionally, compared to traditional footwear. However, little research has been done on the medium- and long-term effects of wearing minimalist footwear. So, the aim of the study is to assess the long-term effects of wearing minimalist footwear on various variables measured in healthy subjects. Materials and methods: A randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial is conducted. A sample of 80 healthy adults is randomly divided into an experimental group (wearing minimalist footwear) and a control group (wearing traditional footwear). The study variables are measured before and after the intervention. The outcomes are morphology and function of the intrinsic foot muscles (IFMs), study of plantar pressures under load, static and dynamic stability, thickness and compressibility of the heel fat pad, frontal plane alignment of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the hallux, and plantar skin sensitivity. Applicability of the expected results: If positive changes are found in the experimental group, it is proposed that educational talks or other types of actions be organized to promote the use of this type of footwear.

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