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Foot Strengthening to Improve Balance and Gait in Older Adults

Evaluation of a Novel Foot Strengthening Device for Improving Fall Risk, Balance, and Gait With Age

Who can join

Ages 45 and older · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy adults: 45 years of age or older
* Able to walk without an assistive walking device or lower limb prosthesis for at least 6 minutes
* No history of foot or ankle surgery
* No history of regular minimalist footwear use
* No foot or ankle issues for which study activities may be contraindicated
* BMI \<= 40

Exclusion Criteria:

* Deemed unfit for physical activity by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
* Current or history of an unresolved musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary/respiratory, metabolic, renal condition, disease, or problem
* Use of orthotics in daily (i.e., non-athletic) footwear
* Pregnancy
* Any other disease or problems that may affect movement or the ability to exercise even at a low intensity

About the study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether different foot-strengthening strategies can improve foot strength, balance, walking ability, and fall-related outcomes in middle-aged and older adults (ages 45-85 years).

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does foot strength change from baseline after an 8-week foot-strengthening intervention? * Do balance, gait, and physical function improve following different foot-strengthening approaches?

Researchers will compare minimalist footwear use, a foot exercise program, a foot-strengthening device (ToePro), and no intervention to see if these interventions lead to greater improvements in foot strength, balance, gait, and fall-related outcomes than no intervention.

Participants will:

* Complete baseline and post-intervention laboratory testing of foot strength, balance, physical function, and walking gait * Perform foot strengthening exercises or wear minimalist footwear (if applicable) five days/week for eight weeks * Complete daily logs to record intervention compliance

What is being tested

• Minimalist footwear (device)
• Foot strengthening exercises (behavioral)
• ToePro foot strengthening device (device)

Sponsor: Indiana University · Participants: 160 · Started: Oct 21, 2025

Contact the study team

• Marni Wasserman, MS · Phone: 812-856-2447
• Allison H. Gruber, PhD · Phone: 812-856-2447

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07384754

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.