Obese adults walk differently in shoes than while barefoot

Some comparisons between walking gait of obese and non-obese adults have been made during barefoot conditions, and others while shod. Methodological differences, footwear conditions, and gait speed disparities among the research done on overweight individuals were the factors motivating the present study.

The present study was designed to compare gait kinematics and kinetics of obese adults between two footwear conditions (barefoot versus shod) at a set walking speed.

Ten obese (body mass index > 30 kg.m^-2), but otherwise healthy adults (age = 26 ± 3 years, height = 1.79 ± 0.10 m, mass = 108.46 ± 13.25 kg) participated in this study. Ground reaction forces and 3D kinematic data were simultaneously collected as participants walked overground at 1.5 m.s^-1 in barefoot and shod conditions.

Walking barefoot reduced ankle, knee, and hip ranges of motion, and stride length, stance time, and double support time were also reduced. Kinetic outcomes included smaller peak vertical and anterior-posterior ground reaction forces and knee joint moments while barefoot.

Footwear condition significantly influences key gait variables in obese adults. Conflicting conclusions from previous investigations of gait in obese adults may be a consequence of differing footwear conditions.