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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07632924

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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Pes Planus Congenital Abnormalities Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Flatfoot Foot Deformities Foot Deformities, Acquired Foot Deformities, Congenital Limb Deformities, Congenital Lower Extremity Deformities, Congenital Musculoskeletal Abnormalities Musculoskeletal Diseases Talipes

Age range

11 year–11 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Regional Boarding School (YBO)

Malatya, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 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

Exclusion criteria

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

Treatment and study plan

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.

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Foot Posture Classification (Staheli Arch Index)

    Time frame: Baseline, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3

    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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Plantar Pressure Distribution

    Time frame: Year 3

    Dynamic plantar pressure distribution was recorded using the Tekscan F-Scan system (3000E sensors, 100 Hz) during 30-second walking trials on a UWW-approved mat. Pressure maps were evaluated qualitatively for midfoot contact area and center of pressure trajectory.

  2. Standing Height

    Time frame: Baseline, Year 1, Year 2

    Standing height (cm) was measured using a calibrated stadiometer at each assessment point. Between-group differences were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA (group × time).

  3. Body Mass

    Time frame: Baseline, Year 1, Year 2

    Body mass (kg) was measured using a calibrated scale at each assessment point. Between-group differences were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA (group × time).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Inonu University

Other

Collaborators

  • Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Registry information

Official study title

Medial Arch-Support Wrestling Shoes and Foot Posture Preservation in Adolescent Wrestlers: A Three-Year Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: MAWS-RCT

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Jun 8, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 8, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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