Effects of Slant Board Training on Young Adults’ Obstacle Crossing: Focus on Foot Clearance

Abstract

[Purpose] This study investigated whether standing on a slant board, slant board training (SST), improved foot clearance when crossing obstacles. [Participants and Methods] Ten healthy young adults participated in this study. The subjects performed 1 minute of SST or standing on flat ground. Foot clearance and step length were measured while crossing an obstacle, and the standard deviation (SD) of the foot clearance was calculated. The foot clearance and its SD, step length and the center of pressure (COP) were compared between pre- and post-training. [Results] For the SST subjects, foot clearance increased and its SD decreased. An increase in stride length was also observed and COP was displaced anteriorly. [Conclusion] SST may improve foot clearance and help prevent falls.