The study involved 108 participants, all over the
age of 60. One group walked for half an hour a day
on a simulated cobblestone mat. Some wore socks,
others were barefoot. The second group just walked
on normal ground for an hour three times a week.
The study lasted for four months, after which both
groups claimed to feel better. Those who walked
on the cobblestones also showed significant improvements
in balance, mobility and blood pressure. The biggest
surprise for researchers was how quickly these improvements
occurred.
Why was this effective? Practitioners of cobblestone
walking in China claim that the cobblestones stimulate
“acupoints” (think acupuncture) in the
soles of the feet. Researchers in this study believe
that the answer lies more with the way we maintain
balance. We do this using two complex methods called
the vestibular system (residing in the inner ear)
and the somatosensory system (connecting the skin
and muscles). When we walk normally, the somatosensory
system makes up about 70 percent of our balance
control. On cobblestones or other uneven surfaces,
that number is switched in favor of the vestibular
system.
As we age, we lose receptors in our vestibular
system, causing it to diminish. This study concluded
that, by forcing the vestibular system to work on
a regular basis, it was improved in seniors to the
point where it not only gave a boost to balance,
but also helped to lower blood pressure.
