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The effect of high-heeled shoes on overground gait kinematics in young healthy women

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the modifications in body center of mass (CoM), total mechanical work and walking characteristics during low-heeled and high-heeled gait performed in ecological conditions.

Methods

The 3D coordinates of 19 body landmarks were recorded by an optoelectronic motion analyzer in 13 women while walking overground at self-selected speed with either low-heeled or high-heeled shoes (minimum height, 70 mm). Using mean anthropometric data, the CoM was estimated, and its position evaluated during normalized gait cycles. Shoulders, pelvic and knee orientations were also assessed together with estimates of total mechanical work.

Results

High-heeled walking was performed with significantly lower horizontal speed (p < 0.05) but with the same cadence than low-heeled walking. During the whole gait cycle, the CoM (calculated from the malleolus landmarks) was 3 % lower during high-heeled walking (p < 0.05), had higher vertical displacements and vertical velocity modifications (p < 0.001), and it was significantly more anterior (p < 0.01). On average, walking with high heels at self-selected speed required a 16 % higher total mechanical work, but the difference was not significant. At heel strike with high heels, the shoulders were more inclined (p < 0.05), the support limb knee was significantly more flexed (p < 0.05), with a 12 % reduced total range of motion (p < 0.001), while the back limb knee was less flexed (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Wearing high-heeled shoes significantly alters the normal displacement of human CoM; high-heeled gait exaggerated female walking characteristics with a more anterior CoM position, a wider vertical movement and a slower velocity.

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Acknowledgments

A. Mapelli is currently receiving a grant (Atração de Jovens Talentos—Pesquisador Colaborador no Brasil—BJT—PROGRAMA CIÊNCIA SEM FRONTEIRAS) from the Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia—MCT CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO—CNP; F. Sidequersky had a scholarship from University of Milano, and current she has a scholarship from CNPq, Brazil (Bolsa Jovens Talentos).

Conflict of interest

Authors Annoni, Mapelli, Sidequersky, Zago and Sforza declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standard

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects for being included in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Functional Anatomy Research Center (FARC), Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell’Apparato Stomatognatico (LAFAS), Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell’Apparato Locomotore (LAFAL), Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Mangiagalli 31, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Isabella Annoni, Andrea Mapelli, Fernanda Vincia Sidequersky, Matteo Zago & Chiarella Sforza

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, and Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Andrea Mapelli & Fernanda Vincia Sidequersky

Authors
  1. Isabella Annoni
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  2. Andrea Mapelli
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  3. Fernanda Vincia Sidequersky
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  4. Matteo Zago
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  5. Chiarella Sforza
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Correspondence to Chiarella Sforza.

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Annoni, I., Mapelli, A., Sidequersky, F.V. et al. The effect of high-heeled shoes on overground gait kinematics in young healthy women. Sport Sci Health 10, 149–157 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-014-0191-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-014-0191-z

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