The effects of toe grip training on fall prevention and cognitive function in the elderly

Given the connection between the feet and the brain via sensory receptors, it is believed that improving the sensitivity of the toes and the soles of the feet could help prevent injuries and improve performance in athletes and prevent falls and improve cognitive function in the elderly. Associate Professor Ryota Tsuyuguchi was a coach of the Osaka Sangyo University Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Team, which enabled him to observe, first-hand, the importance of feet to performance. This prompted him to consider the wider implications of improving sensation in toes and feet. At the Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences at Osaka Sangyo University in Japan, Tsuyuguchi and the team are conducting research to expand on the belief that training related to toe grip could enhance the benefits of exercise. Indeed, training interventions related to conscious toe grip might affect brain metabolism and brain nerve activity, helping to improve cognitive function. The researchers have studied most age sectors of society and found that the output of the motor association cortex in the frontal lobe was strengthened and the function of the A10 nerve nucleus was improved, which suggests that the prefrontal cortex was also affected. The researchers believe that the activation of mechanoreceptors on the soles of the feet will improve toe grip function to ensure support and safety. They also believe that moving the centre of gravity forward through training of toe grip will encourage autonomic posture adjustment through the spinal reflexes, which may also be an effective approach in the prevention of falls.