Medial Arch-Support Wrestling Shoes and Foot Posture Preservation in Adolescent Wrestlers

NCT07632924 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2018-106
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 88
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This three-year randomized controlled trial investigated whether wrestling shoes with built-in medial arch support can preserve foot arch structure in adolescent male wrestlers compared to standard wrestling shoes without arch support. A total of 88 adolescent male wrestlers (age 11 at baseline) were randomly assigned to wear either modified wrestling shoes with integrated medial arch support (intervention group, n=44) or standard commercially available wrestling shoes (control group, n=44). Foot posture was assessed annually using the Staheli Arch Index via podoscopy. Plantar pressure distribution was recorded using the Tekscan F-Scan system. The study followed participants for three years. The primary aim was to determine whether medial arch-support wrestling shoes reduce the emergence of flat foot (pes planus) compared with standard wrestling shoes during a critical period of foot development in young athletes.

Conditions

Pes Planus; Flatfoot; Foot Deformities

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Foot Posture Classification (Staheli Arch Index)

  Foot posture was classified annually using the Staheli Arch Index (SAI) assessed via podoscopy. Classifications: normal (SAI 0.45-0.89), flexible pes planus (SAI 0.90-1.00), and rigid pes planus (SAI ≥1.01, confirmed by Jack Toe Raise Test). Between-group differences were evaluated using Fisher's exact test with Bonferroni correction.

  Baseline, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Plantar Pressure Distribution

  Year 3

• Standing Height

  Baseline, Year 1, Year 2

• Body Mass

  Baseline, Year 1, Year 2

Study Arms (2)

Modified Wrestling Shoe (Arch Support)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants wore modified wrestling shoes with integrated medial arch support, multi-density rubber outsole, reinforced heel stabilization, structured midfoot midsole, and optimized plantar contact geometry for three years during all wrestling training sessions. Shoe sizes were monitored and replaced as needed.

Device: Medial Arch-Support Wrestling Shoe

Standard Wrestling Shoe

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants wore standard commercially available wrestling shoes featuring a flat thin rubber outsole, no cushioning midsole, no arch support, near-zero heel drop, and a high collar for three years during all wrestling training sessions. Shoe sizes were monitored and replaced as needed.

Device: Standard Wrestling Shoe

Interventions

Medial Arch-Support Wrestling Shoe DEVICE

Modified wrestling shoe incorporating a multi-density rubber outsole, integrated medial longitudinal arch support, reinforced heel stabilization with hidden heel pads, structured midfoot midsole, four-way stretch Scuba fabric upper, and adhesive Velcro tape closure system. Designed to redistribute plantar pressure and preserve medial longitudinal arch structure during wrestling training.

Modified Wrestling Shoe (Arch Support)

Standard Wrestling Shoe DEVICE

Conventional commercially available wrestling shoe featuring a thin flat rubber outsole, hard insole without arch support, tight lacing system, high collar, and rigid non-flexible plastic base. No medial arch support or plantar load redistribution features.

Standard Wrestling Shoe

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 11 Years - 11 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Registered wrestlers at Regional Boarding Schools (YBO)
• Training frequency of 3 or more days per week
• No lower extremity injury within the preceding 6 months
• No current orthopedic insole use
• Normal foot posture at baseline

You may not qualify if:

• Prior lower extremity surgery
• Neurological disorders
• Rheumatological disorders
• Severe congenital foot deformity
• Current orthopedic insole use
• Existing foot deformity at baseline

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Inonu University: lead
• Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University: collaborator
• Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Regional Boarding School (YBO)

Malatya, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Flatfoot; Foot Deformities

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Talipes; Foot Deformities, Acquired; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Foot Deformities, Congenital; Lower Extremity Deformities, Congenital; Limb Deformities, Congenital; Musculoskeletal Abnormalities; Congenital Abnormalities; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities

Study Officials

• Mahmut Açak

  Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participant blinding was not feasible due to visible shoe differences. Outcome assessors and statistical personnel were blinded to group allocation.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sport Teaching

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to modified wrestling shoes with medial arch support (intervention) or standard wrestling shoes (control) and followed for three years.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 26, 2026
• First Posted: June 8, 2026
• Study Start: May 1, 2018
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2021
• Study Completion: December 1, 2021
• Last Updated: June 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)