The Effect of Five-Toed Socks on Postural Control Among Active Individuals Who Have Chronic Ankle Instabilities

Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is one of the most common injuries in sports. There is a unique style of socks that have become popular in Japan among athletes that could also improve postural control. The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of five-toed socks on dynamic postural control in individuals with and without chronic ankle instability.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Ankle Sprain
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Unilateral CAI

Detailed Description

Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is one of the most common injuries in sports. Ankle braces and orthotic insoles also have been shown to influence the neuromuscular control system by enhancing the proprioceptive and cutaneous afferent inputs to the central nerve system; thereby improving postural control. There is a unique style of socks that have become popular in Japan among athletes that could also improve postural control by enhancing cutaneous afferent inputs from the plantar surface of the foot and toes. The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of five-toed socks on dynamic postural control in individuals with and without chronic ankle instability.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 53
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Ohio
    • Toledo, Ohio, United States, 43614
      • University of Toledo

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• member of university community
• All subjects will be physically active (at least 30 minutes of sustained exercise 3 times/week

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of: knee or hip musculoskeletal injury or surgery
• history of: fracture or dislocation of the testing ankle or leg
• neurological problems
• vestibular disorders or concussions within the last 6 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Without Unilateral CAI; Individuals with no history of chronic ankle instability (CAI)	Device: Unilateral CAI; five-toed socks usage
Experimental: With Unilateral CAI; Individuals with a history of chronic ankle instability (CAI) that is affecting only one limb	Device: Unilateral CAI; five-toed socks usage

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Primary Outcome Measurement for This Study Was to Determine Differences in Center of Pressure (COP) and Static Postural Control Patterns in Individuals With and Without CAI During the Single Limb Balance Test.	Participants were recruited to complete three testing sessions, separated by approximately one week. The participants were tested while wearing five-toed socks. Static postural control was assessed on a force plate (model 4060NC; Bertec Corp. Inc., Columbus, OH) with the subject in a single-limb stance. Center of Pressure (COP) data were sampled at 50Hz. The subjects completed three 15-second trials with a one-minute rest between trials. Motion Monitor software (Innovative Sports Training, Inc., Chicago, IL) collected COP data during the single-limb stance test. The primary outcome was COP-Velocity (cm/sec).	3 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Reaching Distances	The secondary outcome measurement for this study will be to determine differences in the mean value of the three reaching distances (the anterior, posterior lateral, and posterior medial direction) of the SEBT in individuals with and without chronic ankle instability. The reaching distances (cm) from the three directions were averaged together and then normalized to the leg length of the stance leg (cm). The outcome variable, normalized maximum reaching distance (MAXD), was represented as a percentage value representing the distance as a % of leg length.	3 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Toledo Health Science Campus
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Phillip Gribble, University of Toledo

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 23, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 27, 2010
• First Posted (Estimated): September 28, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 13, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2024
• Last Verified: July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Leg Injuries; Ankle Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: UTHSC-12