Citation

Hübscher M, Thiel C, Schmidt J, Bach M, Banzer W, Vogt L. Gait Posture 2011; 33(4): 740-742.

Affiliation

Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Ginnheimer Landstraße 39, 60487 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.02.021

PMID

21440441

Abstract

The present study investigated the relative slip resistance of commercially available non-slip socks during gait. Twenty-four healthy subjects (29.3±10.4 years) participated in the study. Each subject completed 4 different test conditions (barefoot, non-slip socks, conventional socks, backless slippers) in a randomized, balanced order. The slip resistance was estimated by measuring the heel deceleration time using a heel-mounted accelerometer. Repeated measures ANOVA and post hoc paired-sample t-test with Bonferroni correction were used for statistical analysis. Compared to barefoot walking absolute deceleration times [ms] were significantly increased when wearing conventional socks or slippers. No significant differences were observed between the barefoot and non-slip socks conditions. The present study shows that non-slip socks improved slip-resistance during gait when compared to conventional socks and slippers. Future investigations should verify the present findings in hospital populations prone to slip-related falls.

Language: en