The effect of insole on muscle activity and muscle fatigue at sit to standing of tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius in adult male.
Jin Young Kim
PMID 29545699WHAT IT FOUND
In 30 young men, wearing insoles of different heights did not change muscle activity during sit-to-stand.
However, calf muscle fatigue was significantly higher with 5.5 cm insoles compared to lower heights, suggesting a potential increase in muscular demand.
Key findings
01No significant differences were found in muscle activity for either the anterior tibialis or gastrocnemius across insole heights.
02Gastrocnemius (calf) muscle fatigue was significantly different based on insole height, with 5.5 cm showing higher fatigue values than 1.5 cm, 3 cm, and 3.5 cm.
03The study included only healthy male college students, limiting generalizability to other populations.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample consisted only of healthy male college students, so results cannot be generalized to women, older adults, or individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. The study did not control for or minimize the risk of placing excessive body weight on a single insole, which may have affected fatigue measurements. The findings are based on a specific movement (sit-to-stand) and may not apply to walking or other activities. The study is a cross-sectional comparison within a single session, not a longitudinal assessment of chronic use.
Declared interests
None declared. The paper was supported by research funds from Howon University.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that insoles improve or worsen muscle function overall. While calf fatigue increased with the highest insole, muscle activity did not change, and the study only observed short-term effects in healthy young men during sit-to-stand tasks.