Does unstable shoe increase selected ankle muscle activities during different walking task conditions?

Conventional shoes due to considerable protection from foot may lead to weakness and muscle imbalance in long-term, so lower limb and back become prone to injury. Natural instability possibility in unstable shoe may lead to increase in activity of some ankle muscles to maintain balance. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare muscle activity of selected ankle joint muscles in both conventional and unstable shoes during upslope walking, climbing stairs and descend the stair.

 Twelve female students with mean age of 25.82 ± 2.27 years, height of 162.86 ± 5.71 cm and body mass of 53.51 ± 8.59 kg participated in this study voluntarily. Root mean square medial gastrocnemius, peroneus longus, anterior tibialis and soleus activity during upslope walking, climbing stairs and descend the stair muscles were determined with electromyographic (EMG) signals when walking with conventional shoes and with unstable shoes. Data were analyzed by using analysis of variance with repeated measures at the level of significance of P≤0.05.

 Root mean square wasn't significantly greater in the unstable compared to the conventional shoes for all tested condition (upslope walking: P=0.344, up stair: P=0.698, down stair: P=0.192)

 The unstable shoe seemed to was not advantageous rather than conventional shoe for the selected ankle muscle activities during upslope walking, climbing stairs and descend the stair.