Effects of the High-Heeled Shoes on the Sensory System and Balance in Women
The purpose of this study were to compare light touch, two-point discrimination, position sense, and static balance ability and to examine the relationship of static balance ability and different senses in those who are wearing various heights of high-heeled shoes. Each 29 women was classified two different heights (below 3 cm, above 7 cm) by experience in wearing shoes. A t-test was used to determine the differences between low- and high-heeled shoe in light touch, two-point discrimination, position sense, and static balance ability. Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationship of static balance ability to these sensation. The results were as follows: 1) No significant differences in average light touch, position sense between two groups were found(p>0.05). But significant differences in average two-point discrimination, static balance ability were found(p<0.05). 2) Static balance ability was not significantly correlated with light touch, position sense, two-point discrimination(p>0.05). The results suggest that long time experience in wearing high-heeled shoe may be caused local sensory change and decreased static balance ability. Even though, static balance ability was not significantly affected but correlated with two-point discrimination, position sense, and light touch in order.