Effect of Textured insole on the complexity of center of pressure sway in faller older adults

Aging is associated with reduction in the complexity of biological systems such as postural control system. Somatosensory system plays an important role in the complexity of the postural control system which its inputs reliability is reduced with age. Therefore، the interventions that improve complexity of postural control system by increasing sensory input can improve balance performance and reduce risk of falling. In this study 8 faller older adults with the average age of 66. 25 (±3. 53) years were selected by simple non-probability sampling method. The complexity of the center of pressure (COP) sway was measured by approximate entropy in medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions in different conditions: using textured insole [with and without textured insole] with open and closed eyes. Textured insole significantly improved medial-lateral approximate entropy values in faller older adults. The post-hoc analysis of medial-lateral approximate entropy of different postural conditions showed the approximate entropy in eyes closed with textured insole condition increased significantly compared with eyes closed without textured insole condition (p=0. 004). This parameter also increased significantly (p=0. 001) in eyes closed with textured insole condition compared with eyes open without textured insole condition. Since textured insole increased complexity of postural sway، it can be used as an intervention which may reduce the risk of falling in older adults with a history of falling.