Effect of High Heel Shoes on Spatiotemporal and Dynamic Balance during Walking in Young Women

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 PhD. Department of Sport Sciences, Humanities Sciences School, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

2 Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 MSc, Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, Isfahan School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aims: Joint kinematics, muscle activity, plantar pressure, and ankle joint position changes with wearing high heeled shoes can decrease walking stability, so the assessment of walking stability during walking with high heeled shoes is necessary. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of high heel shoes on spatiotemporal and dynamic stability during walking.
Materials and Methods: Nine girls with the mean weight of 593.25±17.24 N and height of 1.48±0.14 m participated in the present study. Qualysis motion analysis system and a Kistler force plate were used to record data. Visual 3D software was used to extract spatiotemporal and Centre of Mass (COM) variables. SPSS software was used to analyze data, running dependent t-test, at the set point of 0.05.
Results: The mean displacement of the center of mass in the anterior-posterior plane was 96.69±15.66 cm during walking with 6 cm high heeled shoes which was 7.7cm (P = 0.03) and 7.45cm (P = 0.02) lower compared with walking without shoes and walking with 3-cm high heeled shoes. Walking speed of 3-cm high heeled shoes (1.51 ± 0.17 m / s) (P <0.001) and walking speed without shoe (1.31±0.36 m/s) (P = 0.02) were significantly higher than those of walking with 6-cm high heeled shoes.
Conclusion: According to the results, high heeled shoes reduce the dynamic stability of walking. Waking speed and anterior-posterior displacement of COM of walking with 6-cm high heeled shoes decreased, thus decreasing dynamic stability, and endangering users at the risk of collapse and instability and injury. It is advisable that wearing high heeled shoes be avoided in all populations.

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Main Subjects

References

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The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume 9, Issue 2
July 2020
Pages 93-100

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History

  • Receive Date: 01 August 2019
  • Revise Date: 29 August 2019
  • Accept Date: 03 September 2019
  • First Publish Date: 21 June 2020

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