Effects of prefabricated foot orthoses and soft insoles on postural stability in professional soccer players

Postural stability is an important component of skilled athletic activity. However, the effects of foot orthoses on stability have not been adequately addressed. This study measured postural sway in 30 asymptomatic profession al soccer players in three standing positions and four underfoot conditions . The results revealed that the underfoot condition had no significant effe ct on sway in the mediolateral or anteroposterior planes; however, there wa s a trend toward less mediolateral sway when subjects stood in a unipedal p osition with prefabricated orthoses. These results suggest that insoles and foot orthoses have no significant beneficial or detrimental effects on pos tural stability in asymptomatic subjects. Clinically, this suggests that no improvements in balance performance could be expected with prophylactic us e of insoles or orthoses but that clinicians may prescribe insoles and foot orthoses without fear of impairing postural performance in elite athletes.