The effect of wearing insoles with a toe‐grip bar on occupational leg swelling and lower limb muscle activity: A randomized cross‐over study

OBJECTIVE: Sitting or standing for hours decreases the blood flow in the legs and results in increased pressure on the veins, leading to the development of chronic venous disease. This study aimed to investigate the effects of insoles with a toe‐grip bar on occupational leg swelling and lower limb muscle activity. METHODS: This randomized cross‐over study enrolled 12 healthy men who work in a sitting or standing position. They were randomly divided into groups A (wore shoes with insoles with a toe‐grip bar for 8 hours each) and B (wore shoes with regular insoles for 8 hours each). After 1 week, groups A and B wore shoes with regular insoles and shoes with insoles with a toe‐grip bar, respectively, for 8 hours each. Lower leg volume was measured before and after each intervention, and lower limb muscle activity was measured at the start of each intervention. RESULTS: Occupational leg swelling was significantly smaller in men wearing insoles with a toe‐grip bar (P < .05). Moreover, the integrated electromyogram value of the tibialis anterior muscle and medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles during the stance phase of walking, and tibialis anterior muscle during the swing phase of walking was significantly greater in men wearing insoles with a toe‐grip bar (all P < .05). CONCLUSION: Insoles with a toe‐grip bar contribute to increased lower limb muscle activity, attenuating occupational leg swelling.