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Improving the Assessment of Great Toe Function and its Association with Gait and Balance in Older Adults

Award Number: R15AG098615
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/15/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

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Improving the Assessment of Great Toe Function and its Association with Gait and Balance in Older Adults - Project Summary The primary goal of this project is to determine the relationship between novel measures of great toe function and established measures of gait variability and balance in both younger and older adults. A secondary goal is to develop additional methods for measuring great toe function that are more functionally and ecologically relevant. This project is based upon the work of other investigators who have studied great toe strength using a simple measure of toe grip force across different ages, sexes, and health and disease. Many of these previous studies have reported a connection between great toe strength and gait, balance, and risk for fall but there is disagreement as to the nature and extent of these relationships. Further, toe grip strength provides only a limited perspective on great toe function, whereas the measurement of additional aspects of great toe function can provide greater insight into its impact on balance and gait. Therefore, this project is designed to address the current gaps in literature through the use of a novel device and a procedure for assessing variables that are most related to walking and balance performance in both younger and older adults. While previous studies utilized a simple measure of maximal isometric toe force, this new device has been designed to measure the ability to precisely control submaximal force, the ability to generate force at different joint angles, and the rate of force development. Year 3 of the project will focus on enhancing the measurement device by adding the ability to measure force during concentric and eccentric contractions. Prior research suggests that these variables are likely to improve our understanding of the musculoskeletal and neurological factors that underlie great toe function and its relationship with balance and gait. There are three Specific Aims to this project: 1) examine the relationship between great toe function and measures of balance and gait, 2) compare great toe function and the relationship to balance and gait in young vs older adults, and 3) enhance the novel measurement device by adding the ability to measure force during flexion and extension of the great toe. Falls are an immense public health problem, and research that clarifies the impact of great toe function on balance and gait may lead to improved fall risk assessment and more effective musculoskeletal rehabilitation and/or preventative strategies. Achieving the objectives of this project will also provide substantial insight into the effects of aging on great toe function. Finally, the development of an improved measurement protocol for great toe function will help to standardize measures used by other investigators who study fall risk in older adults.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $541,168 )
2026	2026	CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS CORP	333 S TWIN OAKS VALLEY RD	SAN MARCOS	CA	92096	SAN DIEGO	USA	Aging Research	000	1	9/4/2026	NEW	$541,168
														Subtotal = $541,168

Grand Total All Awards = $541,168

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Improving the Assessment of Great Toe Function and its Association with Gait and Balance in Older Adults

Award Number: R15AG098615

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/15/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

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