Introduction: Precision of movements responsible for maintaining balance deteriorates with age due to natural involutionary processes, thus prompting a research question whether the values of gender-related stability indicators might differ significantly among the study subjects over 60 years of age. Methods: The study group comprised 136 seniors (89 women, 47 men; aged 60–90 years). The CQ-Stab 2P 2-platform posturograph was used as the main research device, whereas the Mann–Whitney U-test was used to evaluate the gender-related differences in the average level of variables. Results: In the open-eye test, significant gender-related differences were observed with regard to the statokinesiogram’s path length in the mediolateral (ML) direction in the subjects aged 60–69 years (p=0.004), mean frequency of center of pressure (COP) displacement and number of COP displacements in the ML direction in the subjects aged 70–79 years (p=0.028, p=0.019), and mean COP displacement in the anteroposterior (AP) direction in the subjects aged 80–90 years (p=0.026). When the subjects were deprived of visual control, gender-related differences were observed with regard to the mean frequency of COP displacement, number of COP displacements in the ML direction in the subjects aged 60–69 years (p=0.045, p=0.049), and the statokinesiogram’s path length in the AP direction in the subjects aged 70–79 years (p=0.015). In the oldest age group, the differences were noted in the statokinesiogram’s path length in the AP direction (p=0.001), a sway area delimited by the COP point (p=0.003), range of AP stability (p<0.001), and range of ML stability (p=0.048). Conclusion: Gender-related differences affecting postural stability were found in the elderly. Men were characterized by a lower level of postural stability when compared with women. This highlights the need to have the gender-related differences taken into account, when developing various preventive and therapeutic programs specifically aimed at compensating certain involution-dependent deficits.

Understanding the factors and mechanisms that determine balance in seniors appears vital in terms of their self-reliance and overall safety. The study aimed to determine the relationship between the features of feet structure and the indicators of postural stability in the elderly. The study group comprised 80 seniors (41F, 39M; aged 75–85 years). CQ-ST podoscope and the CQ-Stab 2P two-platform posturograph were used as primary research tools. The data were analyzed based on Spearman’s rank correlation and forward stepwise regression. Analysis of forward stepwise regression identified the left foot length in females and Clarke’s angle of the left foot in men as significant and independent predictors of postural up to 30% of the variance of dependent variables. Longer feet provide older women with better stability, whereas in men, the lowering of the longitudinal arch results in postural deterioration. In the elderly, the left lower limb shows greater activity in the stabilizing processes in the standing position than the right one. In gerontological rehabilitation special attention should be paid to the individually tailored, gender-specific treatment, with a view to enhancing overall safety and quality of seniors’ lives.

BACKGROUND:The aim of this study was to assess the association between foot deformities and type of shoe regularly worn at work. MATERIAL AND METHODS:We studied 150 employed women ages 30-40 years and divided them into 3 groups according to type of f...

Wprowadzenie: Okres przedszkolny, charakteryzujący się dużą intensywnością ontogenetycznych zmian rozwojowych, jest uznawany za najważniejszy z punktu widzenia kształtowania się stopy. Poznanie budowy stóp u dzieci w tym okresie ma podstawowe znaczenie i stanowi punkt wyjścia do podejmowania profilaktyki, badania i korekcji ich deformacji. Cel pracy: Analiza parametrów budowy stóp i ich związków z wybranymi cechami somatycznymi u dzieci w okresie przedszkolnym. Materiał i metody: Badaniami objęto 80 dzieci w wieku 5 lat uczęszczających do losowo wybranych przedszkoli na terenie województwa podkarpackiego. Narzędzie badawcze stanowił podoskop CQ-ST. Do oceny międzypłciowych różnic w przeciętnym poziomie badanych zmiennych zastosowano test t-Studenta lub alternatywnie test U Manna-Whitneya. Analizę związków badanych zmiennych wykonano na podstawie korelacji liniowej Pearsona lub korelacji rang Spearmana. Wyniki: Odnotowano niski odsetek deformacji stóp u badanych dzieci. U dziewcząt stwierdzono statystycznie istotne związki między kątem Clarke’a stopy prawej a wskaźnikiem masy ciała oraz między wskaźnikiem Wejsfloga stopy prawej a masą i wysokością ciała. W przypadku chłopców kąt Clarke’a i wskaźnik Wejsfloga stopy lewej korelowały ze wskaźnikiem masy ciała. Wnioski: Większość badanych dziewcząt i chłopców miała prawidłowo wysklepione podłużnie i poprzecznie stopy oraz prawidłowo ustawione palce. Nadmiar masy ciała niekorzystnie wpływał na ukształtowanie stóp, przy czym u dziewcząt powodował pogorszenie wysklepienia podłużnego i poprzecznego stopy prawej, natomiast u chłopców dochodziło do spłaszczenia łuków podłużnych i poprzecznych stopy lewej.

Background: Adequate footwear comfort and functionality are important regardless of age, but they become particularly important in the youngest-old women and men, mainly due to the fact that this age range is the initial period of old age with changes in shoe preferences. The aim of this study was to assess the perception of footwear comfort and its relationship with the feet structure in youngest-old women and men. Methods: The cross-sectional study covered community dwellers living on their own aged 65–74 years (50 women; 50 men). The feet characteristics were measured using the CQ-ST podoscope (Electronic System, Ltd, EU), and the perception of footwear comfort was assessed with a visual analogue scale. The assessment took into account gender-specific footwear of a certain brand (Befado Dr orto). Results: Statistically significant intergender differences were observed in the perception of footwear comfort with respect to the shoe heel width (p = 0.022), the arch height (p = 0.013), the overall comfort (p = 0.049) and the material properties of the footwear (p = 0.017). In women, there were statistically significant positive relationships among the heel angle (γ) and the perception of footwear comfort in terms of heel cushioning (p = 0.021), forefoot cushioning (p = 0.015), arch height (p = 0.029). In men, there was a statistically significant negative relationship of the left foot Clarke’s angle with the heel height (p = 0.043), and a positive relationship between the right foot width and the arch height (p = 0.044). Conclusions: Youngest-old women, compared to men of the same age range, have a higher perception of shoe comfort in terms of the shoe heel width, the arch height, the overall comfort of the footwear and the material properties of the footwear. The appropriate profile and construction of the shoe allows for an increase in the contact surface of the foot with the shoe, hence the improvement in the perception of footwear comfort in people with lowered arch or widened forefoot.