Effects of Footwear Types on Balance and Risk of Falls among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Falls are one of the most common causes of trauma among pregnant women. Footwears are part of the major environmental risk factors of falls, yet there is no evidence to ascertain how different footwear types affect balance and risk of falls in pregnant women. Our study assessed the effects of footwear types on balance and risk of falls among apparently healthy pregnant women.

43 pregnant women in their second and third trimesters simulated static balance, measured by the maximum width base of support and risk of falls as determined by the three-meter backward test, using six different types of footwear. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance at an alpha level of 0.05.

There was a significant variation in balance with types of footwear (p < 0.001), with the female variant flip flop slippers exerting the most unfavourable effects on balance (maximum width base of support of 32.3±4.4cm). The work shoes and ankle strap sandals provided the greatest degree of balance, with mean maximum width base of support of 30.8±4.3 and 31.4±3.9, respectively. Surprisingly, there was no significant variation in the risk of falls with types of footwear (p< 0.052).

Work shoes and ankle strap sandals have a greater tendency to improve static balance in pregnant women while flip flop slippers may contribute to poor balance performance, as compared to other footwear types. The findings may be helpful to researchers and clinicians in understanding balance responses to different footwear designs.