Can Foot Orthoses Prevent Falls? A Proposal for a New Evaluation Protocol

Foot pain represents one of the most common symptoms in lower limb issues, especially in elderly individuals. This condition, often associated with other pathologies, increases the risk of falling. To better understand the risk of falls, it is essential to assess patients’ postural stability. In this pilot study, we aimed to set a protocol to prevent the falling risk. We propose the use of inertial sensors (IMUs) to detect even minimal body oscillations in a non-invasive, rapid, and cost-effective way. We have analyzed a sample of 35 patients (age = 58 ± 14 years, female = 20/male = 15) to investigate the total range of body sway in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions during static balance in relation to their age and BMI. The analysis of the collected parameters (sway area, sway pathAP, and sway pathML) has showed a lower stability at t1, at the time of orthosis application, with respect to the previous condition, implied by the necessary period of adaptation to the new plantar device. In fact, the postural parameters have visibly improved at 30 days (t2). Comparing the results obtained in the different postural exercises, we have obtained significant differences between the natural standing position with eyes open and the others. According to these results, we can suppose that using inertial sensors associated to postural exercise is the best way to assess a patient’s postural stability and that the progressive improvements may be more marked over a longer period, such as six months (t3).