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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Evaluating the Function of the Foot Core System in the Elderly
Published on: March 11, 2022
Acute Foot Warming Enhances Plantar Tactile Sensitivity With Limited Postural Control Effects in Obese Older Adults
Mathias Sosa Machado1, Lissandra Dos Santos Gonçalves1, Amanda Carolina Paim Camponogara1
1Applied Neuromechanics Research Group, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Background And Purpose:
Interventions to enhance tactile sensitivity, such as warming the feet, positively affect skin sensitivity with varying influence on postural control. Here, we hypothesize that foot warming may benefit tactile sensitivity and postural control in older adults, particularly those with obesity.
Methods:
Fifty participants divided into 16 middle-aged adults (14 women, mean ± standard deviation: age 40.29 ± 3.73 years, body mass index, BMI, 24.51 ± 1.70 kg/m2), 17 non-obese older adults (12 women, 72.71 ± 6.36 years, BMI 25.09 ± 2.84 kg/m2), and 17 obese older adults (13 women, 69.59 ± 7.19 years, BMI 32.65 ± 6.31 kg/m2) were evaluated for foot tactile sensitivity and center of pressure (CoP) displacement during natural and semi-tandem stance before and after a warming protocol increasing foot skin temperature by approximately 6°C.
Results:
Acute foot warming consistently enhanced plantar tactile sensitivity across adulthood and aging, with the largest improvements observed in obese older adults. In contrast, effects on postural control were limited.
Discussion:
Consistent with previous studies, we found that foot warming acutely enhances plantar tactile sensitivity across adulthood and aging, with novelty and larger sensory benefits observed in obese older adults. However, improvements in postural control were not identified across different postural tasks. These findings identify foot warming as a simple strategy to acutely enhance plantar sensory function, particularly in older adults with obesity.
