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Proprioceptive insoles

Discussion in 'Biomechanics, Sports and Foot orthoses' started by Giovanni Curti, Dec 15, 2011.


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    Good morning
    My name is Giovanni
    Jobs in Milan, Italy, and I deal with orthotics. I would like to know what you think of the proprioception of the foot and particularly if you think you can, with the use of proprioceptive insoles, posture change. Here we are a lot of it is talking in particular about the child's foot.
    Thank you for all your suggestions.
    friendliness
     
  2. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    There is no such thing. "Proprioception" is about joint position sense. There is nothing you can put under a foot that can change or improve proprioception. All something under a foot can do is alter mechanics (kinetic and kinematics) and change pressure on the plantar mechanoreceptors (ie alter sensory input; and have neuromuscular effects). That pressure on the plantar mechanoreceptors is a signal that the CNS can use or not use and initiate a motor response as a result of those additional signals that it did not do before using the 'whatever' under the foot. This plantar sensory input is extremely important for a lot of things (including posture), but that is an exteroceptive pathway, NOT the proprioceptive pathway.

    "Proprioceptive Insoles/Orthotics" is just a marketing term used by snake oil salesman.

    See these threads: proprioceptive insoles

    (NOTE TO SELF: ... must go and trademark the name 'exteroceptive orthotics')
     
  3. thank you very much
    you have been very clear ... I have asked this question because I recently attended a course
    the method Burdiol .. and I am very confused.
    I think in addition to the snake oil we do not go here a lot.
    thanks again
     
  4. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    I don't deny that "foot orthotics" can have sensory, neuromuscular or exteroceptive pathway effects.....its just the marketing spin associated with the "propriceptive orthotics" I have a problem with.

    Have you noticed that those promoting "proprioceptive orthotics" have a product to sell that can cure everything and have no evidence to back any of it up? --> snake oil
     
  5. I believe that anything between foot and the ground will decrease proprioception. Foot relies on sensory perception which is inhibited by shoes, socks, and orthotics. Without the necessary sensory feedback, your balance is compromised.
     
  6. Ian Drakard

    Ian Drakard Active Member

    Of course- I always wondered why I fall over when wearing shoes. Is this just a spammer?
     
  7. How?:santa:
     
  8. Linda:

    I don't see a whole lot of people losing their balance while wearing shoes so I'm not very convinced by your unsupported statements.

    Sensory feedback isn't always a good thing if your goal is to "maintain balance". I'll bet that if I took 100 subjects in shoes with 6 mm thick soles and had them walk over a board with a bunch of nails sticking out through the bottom of the board by 5 mm that they would be much better "balanced" than the same subjects if they were to walk over the same board while barefoot.

    In this case, shoes would increase their "balance" wouldn't they?
     
  9. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    So how come every single study that has looked at foot orthotics and balance shows an improvement with the use of foot orthotics? ... or are you just posting a nonsensical spam statement to link drop your signature for self promotion?.....as I see you have already been banned from another forum, I think its the later ... goodbye.
     
  10. Don't feel bad. You're confused because the model makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Well done for spotting it.

    Emperors new insoles.
     
  11. Brian A. Rothbart

    Brian A. Rothbart Well-Known Member

    Ok, the jury is in: Proprioceptive Insoles change posture, globally.
    The question is, How exactly do they work: Two theories
    • (1) Biomechanical (engineering) model, based on the earlier works of Root and others
    • (2) Neurophysiological model based on CNS changes
    Time will tell as more research results are published.
     
  12. efuller

    efuller MVP

    Brian, what is the difference between a proprioceptive insole and a non proprioceptive insole? Is the difference the writing put on the package by those marketing them? Are you aware of the definition of proprioception?
     
  13. Brian A. Rothbart

    Brian A. Rothbart Well-Known Member

    Good question.

    Twenty some odd years ago, I was still thinking in terms of biomechanical insoles, and my observations were inconsistent with this paradigm. Specifically, I would use a forefoot shim, say 2 or 3 cm, and note a dramatic shift in the occlusion (and changes mentation). From an engineering point of view this made no sense. The occlusal shift was disproportionate to the plantar shim. And how could one explain the changes in behavior.

    This, among other observations, started me down a different path in an attempt to explain what I was documenting. A path I now refer to as a neurophysiological paradigm.

    Approximately 15 years ago, I proposed a foot to brain link, which my current research seems to validate (more research needs to be done in this area).

    Regarding the term proprioception, I used this term to describe the type of insoles I was using to treat the Preclinical clubfoot Deformity and Primus Metatarsus Supinatus foot deformity. Specifically, I was applying a stimulation to the bottom of the foot to change the spatial orientation of the body (e.g., posture).

    One of the definitions of proprioception is: The unconscious perception of spatial orientation (e.g., posture) arising from a stimuli within the body (in this case the stimuli was outside of the body). So one could argue that using this term was not the best choice of terms.

    Unfortunately, in the past decade, so many publications have used this term (proprioceptive insole), it has become entrenched in the literature.
     
  14. scotfoot

    scotfoot Well-Known Member

    Proprioception not just about spatial awareness but also has a force awareness component .
    For example a child with proprioceptive deficits may keep breaking crayons without meaning to .
     
  15. Brian A. Rothbart

    Brian A. Rothbart Well-Known Member

  16. efuller

    efuller MVP

    Brian, what is the difference between what you call a proprioceptive insole and a 2-3 cm shim? It is unfortunate that the term proprioceptive insole has gotten into the literature without a definition of what it is.
     
  17. Brian A. Rothbart

    Brian A. Rothbart Well-Known Member

    Read Chapter 5, in the Foot to Brain Connection. Then any remaining questions, please ask.
     
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