The effects of textured materials on static balance in healthy young and older adults: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Standing on textured materials can improve static balance, potentially by modulating somatosensory inputs from the soles of the feet.

Research question: To synthesise and quantify the immediate effects of textured materials on static balance in healthy young and older adults.

Methods: Primary outcomes were the centre of pressure (COP) displacement and velocity, during eyes open and eyes closed conditions. Ten crossover studies (n = 318, 58% female) met the inclusion criteria. A random effects meta-analysis model derived pooled standardised mean differences (SMD; Hedges g) to quantify the effects of textured materials. Heterogeneity was quantified with the tau-statistic (τ). A 95% prediction interval quantified the likely range of true effects on COP outcomes in similar future studies.

Results: There was a small to moderate beneficial effect for textured materials vs control conditions in: COP displacement during both eyes open (SMD: 0.29; 95% CI -0.06 to 0.64; τ = 0.32) and eyes closed (SMD: 0.75; 95% CI 0.18 to 1.33; τ = 0.55). A trivial to small beneficial effect was observed in COP velocity during eyes open (SMD: 0.14; 95% CI -0.14 to 0.43; τ = 0.18) and eyes closed (SMD: 0.20; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.40; τ = 0.18) for textured materials. The 95% prediction intervals showed texture may not consistently provide beneficial results across studies for all outcomes: COP displacement EC (-0.61 to 2.12), EO (-0.54 to 1.12), COP velocity EC (-0.27 to 0.68) and EO (-0.44 to 0.73).

Significance: Overall, textured materials improved balance, but these effects were heterogeneous. This research may therefore inform applied investigations into balance improvements for healthy populations, for example, in functional movements and sports.

Keywords: Healthy adults; Mechanoreceptors; Postural sway; Prediction interval; Textured insoles.