Background: Height is an important factor in determining a person’s appearance, so people often wear height increase elevator shoes insoles (HIESI) or high heels to make themselves look taller. However, high heels often act as a risk factor for musculoskeletal diseases.
Objectives: To investigated how muscle tone and muscle stiffness in the lumbar region of young adult men varied according to the height of the HIESI, and analyzed the correlation.
Design: Non-randomised trial. Methods:
Muscle tone and muscle stiffness in the upper and lower lumbar regions of 20 healthy young adult men in an upright standing position were measured as the subjects wore no insoles and 2 cm, 3 cm, and 4 cm insoles.
Results: Muscle tone and muscle stiffness in the lumbar region did not show a significant change according to the increased height of the HIESI. However, a positive correlation was observed when the subjects wore 4 cm HIESI, as there was a significant increase (P<.05) in muscle tone and stiffness in the left side of the upper lumbar region and in the right side of the lower lumbar region.
Conclusion: Wearing HIESI for short periods of time in the static standing position did not cause a change in muscle tone and muscle stiffness in the lumbar region. However, wearing 4 cm HIESI demonstrated a correlation of increased muscle tone and stiffness in the upper and lower lumbar regions in an asymmetric manner.

INTRODUCTION
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
ACKNOWLEGEMENT
REFERENCES

• Joongsan Wang(Department of Physical Therapy, Howon University)