Medial Arch-Support Wrestling Shoes and Foot Posture Preservation in Adolescent Wrestlers (MAWS-RCT)

June 2, 2026 updated by: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür EKEN, Inonu University

Medial Arch-Support Wrestling Shoes and Foot Posture Preservation in Adolescent Wrestlers: A Three-Year Randomized Controlled Trial

This three-year randomized controlled trial investigated whether wrestling shoes with built-in medial arch support can preserve foot arch structure in adolescent male wrestlers compared to standard wrestling shoes without arch support.

A total of 88 adolescent male wrestlers (age 11 at baseline) were randomly assigned to wear either modified wrestling shoes with integrated medial arch support (intervention group, n=44) or standard commercially available wrestling shoes (control group, n=44). Foot posture was assessed annually using the Staheli Arch Index via podoscopy. Plantar pressure distribution was recorded using the Tekscan F-Scan system. The study followed participants for three years.

The primary aim was to determine whether medial arch-support wrestling shoes reduce the emergence of flat foot (pes planus) compared with standard wrestling shoes during a critical period of foot development in young athletes.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

88

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Registered wrestlers at Regional Boarding Schools (YBO)
  • Training frequency of 3 or more days per week
  • No lower extremity injury within the preceding 6 months
  • No current orthopedic insole use
  • Normal foot posture at baseline

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior lower extremity surgery
  • Neurological disorders
  • Rheumatological disorders
  • Severe congenital foot deformity
  • Current orthopedic insole use
  • Existing foot deformity at baseline

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Modified Wrestling Shoe (Arch Support)
Participants wore modified wrestling shoes with integrated medial arch support, multi-density rubber outsole, reinforced heel stabilization, structured midfoot midsole, and optimized plantar contact geometry for three years during all wrestling training sessions. Shoe sizes were monitored and replaced as needed.
Device: Medial Arch-Support Wrestling Shoe
Modified wrestling shoe incorporating a multi-density rubber outsole, integrated medial longitudinal arch support, reinforced heel stabilization with hidden heel pads, structured midfoot midsole, four-way stretch Scuba fabric upper, and adhesive Velcro tape closure system. Designed to redistribute plantar pressure and preserve medial longitudinal arch structure during wrestling training.
Active Comparator: Standard Wrestling Shoe
Participants wore standard commercially available wrestling shoes featuring a flat thin rubber outsole, no cushioning midsole, no arch support, near-zero heel drop, and a high collar for three years during all wrestling training sessions. Shoe sizes were monitored and replaced as needed.
Device: Standard Wrestling Shoe
Conventional commercially available wrestling shoe featuring a thin flat rubber outsole, hard insole without arch support, tight lacing system, high collar, and rigid non-flexible plastic base. No medial arch support or plantar load redistribution features.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Foot Posture Classification (Staheli Arch Index)
Time Frame: Baseline, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3
Foot posture was classified annually using the Staheli Arch Index (SAI) assessed via podoscopy. Classifications: normal (SAI 0.45-0.89), flexible pes planus (SAI 0.90-1.00), and rigid pes planus (SAI ≥1.01, confirmed by Jack Toe Raise Test). Between-group differences were evaluated using Fisher's exact test with Bonferroni correction.
Baseline, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Plantar Pressure Distribution
Time Frame: Year 3
Dynamic plantar pressure distribution was recorded using the Tekscan F-Scan system (3000E sensors, 100 Hz) during 30-second walking trials on a UWW-approved mat. Pressure maps were evaluated qualitatively for midfoot contact area and center of pressure trajectory.
Year 3
Standing Height
Time Frame: Baseline, Year 1, Year 2
Standing height (cm) was measured using a calibrated stadiometer at each assessment point. Between-group differences were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA (group × time).
Baseline, Year 1, Year 2
Body Mass
Time Frame: Baseline, Year 1, Year 2
Body mass (kg) was measured using a calibrated scale at each assessment point. Between-group differences were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA (group × time).
Baseline, Year 1, Year 2

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Inonu University

Collaborators

Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Mahmut Açak, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

May 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 2, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2018-106

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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