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Foot Strengthening to Improve Balance and Gait in Older Adults

Indiana University · NCT07384754

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 45+ · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
160
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
October 21, 2025
Record last updated
August 19, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether different foot-strengthening strategies can improve foot strength, balance, walking ability, and fall-related outcomes in middle-aged and older adults (ages 45-85 years).

The main questions it aims to answer are

  • Does foot strength change from baseline after an 8-week foot-strengthening intervention?
  • Do balance, gait, and physical function improve following different foot-strengthening approaches?

Researchers will compare minimalist footwear use, a foot exercise program, a foot-strengthening device (ToePro), and no intervention to see if these interventions lead to greater improvements in foot strength, balance, gait, and fall-related outcomes than no intervention.

Participants will

  • Complete baseline and post-intervention laboratory testing of foot strength, balance, physical function, and walking gait
  • Perform foot strengthening exercises or wear minimalist footwear (if applicable) five days/week for eight weeks
  • Complete daily logs to record intervention compliance

Being studied: Minimalist footwear; Foot strengthening exercises; ToePro foot strengthening device

Conditions: Minimalist Footwear; Traditional Foot Exercise Program; Foot Strengthening Device (ToePro); Control Condition

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Healthy adults: 45 years of age or older
  • Able to walk without an assistive walking device or lower limb prosthesis for at least 6 minutes
  • No history of foot or ankle surgery
  • No history of regular minimalist footwear use
  • No foot or ankle issues for which study activities may be contraindicated
  • BMI \<= 40

Exclusion Criteria

  • Deemed unfit for physical activity by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
  • Current or history of an unresolved musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary/respiratory, metabolic, renal condition, disease, or problem
  • Use of orthotics in daily (i.e., non-athletic) footwear
  • Pregnancy
  • Any other disease or problems that may affect movement or the ability to exercise even at a low intensity

Recruiting US locations

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Marni Wasserman, MS · 812-856-2447 · marnwass@iu.edu
  • Allison H. Gruber, PhD · 812-856-2447 · ahgruber@iu.edu
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Foot Strengthening to Improve Balance and Gait in Older Adults (NCT07384754) | Bored Studies