The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether different foot-strengthening strategies can improve foot strength, balance, walking ability, and fall-related outcomes in middle-aged and older adults (ages 45-85 years).
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does foot strength change from baseline after an 8-week foot-strengthening intervention? * Do balance, gait, and physical function improve following different foot-strengthening approaches?
Researchers will compare minimalist footwear use, a foot exercise program, a foot-strengthening device (ToePro), and no intervention to see if these interventions lead to greater improvements in foot strength, balance, gait, and fall-related outcomes than no intervention.
Participants will:
* Complete baseline and post-intervention laboratory testing of foot strength, balance, physical function, and walking gait * Perform foot strengthening exercises or wear minimalist footwear (if applicable) five days/week for eight weeks * Complete daily logs to record intervention compliance
Healthy adults: 45 years of age or older
Able to walk without an assistive walking device or lower limb prosthesis for at least 6 minutes
No history of foot or ankle surgery
No history of regular minimalist footwear use
Deemed unfit for physical activity by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
Current or history of an unresolved musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary/respiratory, metabolic, renal condition, disease, or problem
Use of orthotics in daily (i.e., non-athletic) footwear
Pregnancy