幼児の立位重心動揺および立位姿勢に及ぼす草履着用の影響

抄録

This study clarified the influences of wearing Japanese-style sandals on standing postural sway and posture in preschool children. The participants were 159 healthy children, aged between 4 and 5 years (sandal group: 106; control group: 53). Both groups were participating in indoor barefoot education. The experimental group wore sandals as indoor shoes for five months. The control group continued barefoot education for the same period. In both the groups, the soles' ground contact area and track length of center of pressure (T-COP) were measured before and after five months with a plantar pressure measurement device. Additionally, for the sandal group, their natural standing posture was photographed. Two-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) revealed the mean differences between the groups as well as the before–after ground contact area and T-COP. In the sandal group, the ground contact area became smaller due to the foot's arch formation. As for T-COP, the sandal group (p < 0.05) showed significant change, becoming smaller, but the control group did not. When the sandal groups' standing posture was observed post-measurement, these results suggested posture improvement in the straightening of the back. Consequently, Japanese-style sandals greatly influence standing postural sway and natural standing posture.