Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-28-2025
Abstract
This study investigates the kinematic effects of non-athletic, flat-soled sneakers on lower extremity joints during walking. Ten healthy gym-goers (24.4 ± 1.7 years) underwent treadmill gait analysis under two conditions: wearing non-athletic sneakers and walking with only socks. Gait was captured using the Gait Real-time Analysis and Interactive Lab (GRAIL). Dependent variables included cadence, support times, and stride length. Walking with socks significantly increased cadence (p < .0001) and single support time (p = .0103), and decreased initial (p = .018), terminal (p = .0056), and total double support times (p = .0092). No significant difference in stride length was observed. These findings suggest non-athletic sneakers may impair proprioception and balance compared to walking in socks. Further research should explore how footwear types influence gait and postural stability.
Recommended Citation
Aguilar, A., Bautista, K., Claros, J., Dimaano, R., Franke, C., Huber, M., Kurashige, E., Lam, A., Le, K., Sheung, A., Chauhan, R. K., Rajagopal, S., Moon, S. H., Shiraishi, M., & Soangra, R. (2025). The Impact of Non-Athletic, Flat-Soled Sneakers on Gait Kinematics: A Comparative Analysis with Socks. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10711813251358802
Copyright
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting in 2025. This article may not exactly replicate the final published version. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1177/10711813251358802.