Observational analysis found that flat-soled sneakers impair balance and gait in healthy individuals, indicating footwear type affects stability.
This study investigates the kinematic effects of non-athletic, flat-soled sneakers on lower extremity joints during walking. Ten healthy gym-goers (24.4 ± 1.7 years) underwent treadmill gait analysis under two conditions: wearing non-athletic sneakers and walking with only socks. Gait was captured using the Gait Real-time Analysis and Interactive Lab (GRAIL). Dependent variables included cadence, support times, and stride length. Walking with socks significantly increased cadence ( p < .0001) and single support time ( p = .0103), and decreased initial ( p = .018), terminal ( p = .0056), and total double support times ( p = .0092). No significant difference in stride length was observed. These findings suggest non-athletic sneakers may impair proprioception and balance compared to walking in socks. Further research should explore how footwear types influence gait and postural stability.
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Aguilar et al. (2025) studied this question.
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