Athletic event-specific characteristics in floating toes during the static standing posture.
Toshio Yanagiya, Keiichiro Hata, Tomonari Takeshita and 4 others
PMID 32425352WHAT IT FOUND
Kendo athletes had the lowest toe-contact scores in standing; all other groups scored higher, and no group was normal.
Barefoot training was not linked to better toe contact.
Key findings
01Kendo athletes had the lowest total toe-contact score and swimmers the highest, but no group was classified as normal.
02The little toes showed the least ground contact, and most groups had low scores for them.
03Barefoot training was not associated with better toe contact, because kendo athletes trained barefoot but had the lowest scores.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only static standing was measured, so it cannot say how toes behave during walking or sport. The study did not test why floating toes occur or whether they affect function. All participants were Japanese male university students, so results may not apply to other people. The foot scanner estimated pressure from colour, not direct force. No group was classified as normal, so typical toe contact is unclear.
Declared interests
The authors reported no funding and no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that barefoot training prevents floating toes. Kendo athletes trained barefoot but had the lowest toe-contact scores.