Table 2 Differences in balance and gait patterns between the supportive footwear and minimalist footwear. Values are in centimetres

Balance

 Postural sway, eyes open on the floor

172 (335)

81 (77)

135 (152)

78 (88)

0.14

small

0.320*

 Postural sway, eyes closed on the floor

88 (46)

74 (76)

68 (56)

47 (52)

0.36

medium

0.057*

 Postural sway, eyes open on the foam

663 (619)

460 (566)

533 (385)

456 (434)

0.26

medium

0.099*

 Postural sway, eyes closed on the foam

3,824 (8,146)

913 (737)

4,750 (6,062)

1,405 (13,202)

0.13

small

0.324†

 Near tandem stance

929 (972)

429 (955)

760 (878)

514 (522)

0.19

small

0.204*

Walking stability

 Walking stability, treadmill

3,891 (2,917)

2,745 (2,175)

16,377 (53,923)

2,809 (2,134)

0.34

medium

0.157†

 Walking stability, level surface

20,264 (16,077)

13,395 (12,703)

24,060 (28,598)

14,301 (10,661)

0.17

small

0.236†

 Walking stability, irregular surface

21,812 (12,398)

17,364 (12,256)

29,463 (32,038)

16,526 (10,870)

0.32

medium

0.141†