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Footwear and Brain Activity in Children

NCT07151352 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 37

Last updated 2025-09-03

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Childhood is a critical period for neuromotor development, during which footwear may influence both gait biomechanics and the integration of sensory and motor control processes. This study will aim to analyze brain activity in children aged 6-7 years while walking under three conditions: barefoot, in barefoot-style (minimalist) shoes, and in conventional shoes with heel drop.

A quasi-experimental, repeated-measures study will be conducted, in which each participant will complete a 10-meter walking task under the three conditions, in randomized order. Brain activity will be recorded using a 14-channel wireless electroencephalography (EEG) system (Emotiv EPOC X), and relative spectral power (theta, alpha, beta, gamma) as well as Theta/Alpha and Beta/Alpha ratios will be calculated.

Statistical analysis will include global and regional comparisons (frontal, temporal, parieto-occipital), assessment of hemispheric asymmetry, and multivariate analysis. The study is expected to provide novel information on how footwear type may modulate cortical organization during children's gait, with potential implications for pediatric footwear design and clinical recommendations.

Conditions

  • Foot
  • Footwear
  • Children

Interventions

OTHER

Starting Condition - Barefoot

Participants walk barefoot along a 10-meter walkway without wearing shoes or socks.

OTHER

Barefoot-Style Footwear

Participants walk along a 10-meter walkway wearing minimalist footwear with a 3 mm flexible sole, 0 mm heel drop, wide toe box, and no rigid heel counter.

OTHER

Conventional Footwear with Heel Drop

Participants walk along a 10-meter walkway wearing structured footwear with a rigid sole (12 mm heel / 7 mm forefoot), 5 mm heel drop, reinforced heel counter, and narrow toe box.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Malaga

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
6 Years
Max Age
7 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-08-01
Primary Completion
2025-08-10
Completion
2025-09-10

Countries

  • Spain

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07151352 on ClinicalTrials.gov