EFFECTS OF SENSORY STIMULATION ON PLANTAR FOOT SENSITIVITY AND MOTOR COORDINATION ABILITIES IN CHILDREN

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sensory stimulation on plantar sensitivity and motor coordination abilities in children. 37 children from 6 to 8 years (6.7 yrs., ± 0.5) participated in the study. The subjects were divided into three groups. The plantar foot of the first group was stimulated by wearing a randomly knobbed insole (‘Insole’) for 5 weeks. The second group additionally performed a sensory training (‘Training & Insole’). The third group (‘Control’) received no determined stimulation during the 5 weeks. Before and after the stimulation period the sensitivity thresholds and motor coordination abilities were measured. The group ‘Training & Insole’ showed significant improvements for tactile thresholds after the treatment compared to the control group. For the group ‘Insole’ no significant improvements of sensitivity thresholds were found. The motor coordination abilities of the group ‘Training & Insole’ also improved significantly in comparison to the control group, whereas the coordination abilities of the ‘Insole’ subjects did not improve significantly.