Effect of children's shoes on gait: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The effect of footwear on the gait of children is poorly understood. This systematic review synthesises the evidence of the biomechanical effects of shoes on children during walking and running.

Methods

Study inclusion criteria were: barefoot and shod conditions; healthy children aged ≤ 16 years; sample size of n > 1. Novelty footwear was excluded. Studies were located by online database-searching, hand-searching and contact with experts. Two authors selected studies and assessed study methodology using the Quality Index. Meta-analysis of continuous variables for homogeneous studies was undertaken using the inverse variance approach. Significance level was set at P < 0.05. Heterogeneity was measured by I2. Where I2 > 25%, a random-effects model analysis was used a

SUBMITTER: Wegener C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3031211 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature