Use of Insoles to Enhance Postural Control

Abstract: Postural control is a complex process involving sensory inputs from visual, vestibular, proprioceptive and tactile receptors, processed by the central nervous system (CNS). Sensory information provided by muscle and cutaneous afferents in the foot optimize the ability to stand upright and control the postural sway. The foot, as a direct and often only interface between the body and the ground, constitutes an essential functional whole participating in mechanisms of postural control and regulation, allowing the body to sense and interact with the surrounding environment. Among many somatosensory stimulations designed to improve balance, wearing shoe insoles presents one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways. This method can be used both amongst elderly population for fall prevention and amongst athletes to reach better performance and furthermore prevent injuries. With the growing interest in insole use, several prototypes have been developed to monitor movement during day to day use. For therapeutic purposes, the type of insoles used in the studies was often not clarified, and the term insole was used as a general term.The proposed theme of the discussion is to review already existing data on insole use for treatment of postural balance. Keywords: Postural control; Postural sway balance; Insoles; Foot stimulation