보행 시 하이힐 굽 높이에 따른 구간별 차이를 비교하고, 하지관절의 가동범위가 보행 시간에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 20대 여대생 10명이 연구에 참여하였고, 굽 높이에 따라 3차원 보행분석을 통하여 변인을 산출하였다. 통계방법으로 세가지 굽높이에 따른 차이는 일원변량분석을 실시하였고, 보행시간이 하지관절에 미치는 영향은 다중회귀분석을 실시하였다. 연구결과로 보행 시 구간 2는 굽이 높을수록 보행시간이 길게 나타났지만, 구간 3은 굽이 높을수록 보행시간이 짧게 나타났다. 보행시간이 하지 관절 가동범위에 미치는 영향을 분석한 결과 구간 2는 1 cm에서 발목관절, 무릎관절, 5 cm는 발목관절의 가동범위가 클수록 보행시간이 길어졌다. 구간 3은 1 cm에서 고관절 가동범위가 클수록 보행시간이 길어 졌고, 10 cm는 발목관절 가동범위가 작을수록 보행시간이 길어졌다. 따라서 굽 높이 신발의 경우 발목관절의 제어가 중요성이 변인으로 판단된다.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high heeled shoes with the total contact insert (TCI) on the frontal plane of the joints for the lower extremity during the gait. Ten healthy females voluntarily participated in this study and the height of the high heeled shoes was 7 cm. A three-dimensional motion analysis system (VICON) and force plates were used to analyze the movements of the joints for the lower extremities. The results were as follows: There were no significant differences for the angle value on the event of the gait cycle in the maximum eversion and inversion of the ankle joint, the varus and valgus of the knee joint, and the adduction and abduction of the hip joint (p>.05). But, there was a significant difference or the range of motion in the ankle joint (p<.05). The value of ankle and knee moment with a TCI was less than the value for no TCI. And there were significant differences for the moment value of the maximum inversion and eversion on the ankle joint and for the maximum varus and valgus on the knee joint (p<.05). Therefore, a TCI would be effective in stabilizing the joints of the lower extremities and increasing the balance of a body to reduce the injure from a fall during the gait.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of differing heel heights on the electromyographic (EMG) activity in vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) during stair ascending and descending activities. A total of 26 healthy women volunteered to perform stair-ascending and stair-descending tasks with 3 heel heights: barefoot, 3 cm, and 7 cm. The EMG activities of the VM and VL were recorded during the tasks. During the stair ascending and descending tasks, the EMG activities of both VM and VL significantly changed with differing the heel heights (p<.05). Moreover, the EMG activities of VM and VL during the stair ascending task were significantly higher than the corresponding values during the stair-descending task (p<.05). However, there were no significant differences between the VM:VL EMG ratios for the 3 heel heights (p>.05). The VM:VL EMG ratios between the 2 tasks differed significantly in the 7 cm high heel condition (p<.05). Despite an increase in the EMG activities in both VM and VL during stair ascending and descending tasks, there was no change in the relative EMG intensities of VM and VL, which was measured by calculating the VM:VL ratio this result indicates that no VM:VL imbalances were elicited. The relative EMG intensities of VM and VL during stair descent were lower than the corresponding values during the ascent, suggesting that VM and VL may show an imbalance in the eccentric activation during the weight-acceptance phase. This study provides useful information that will facilitate future research on how heel height affects muscle activity around the knee joint.

This study investigated gait characteristics, kinematics, and kinetics in the lower extremities between two different shoe conditions (high heeled shoes (7 cm), and high heeled shoes with a total contact insert (TCI)) after lower extremity muscle fatigue. Although TCI shave been applied in high heeled shoes to increase comfort and to decrease foot pressure, no study has attempted to identify the effects of TCI in fatigue conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of walking in high heeled shoes with TCI after lower extremity muscle fatigue was induced. This study was carried out in a motion analysis laboratory at Hanseo University. A volunteer sample of 14 healthy female subjects participated. All in fatigue conditions, the subjects were divided into two groups. The muscle fatigue was induced by 40 voluntary dorsi- and plantar-flexion exercises and 40 heel-rise exercises of the dominant foot. Surface electromyography was used to confirm the localized muscle fatigue using power spectral analysis of three muscles (tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis). The results were as follows: (1) In muscle fatigue conditions, the use of TCI decreased the peak flexion angle of the hip joint significantly in the early stance phase (p<.05) and increased the peak hip flexion moment in the terminal stance phase (p<.05). (2) In muscle fatigue conditions, the application of TCI also increased peak hip power generation in the early stance phase and peak hip power absorption in the terminal stance phase (p<.05). (3) In muscle fatigue conditions, the use of TCI reduced the impact force significantly and increased the secondary peak vertical GRF. These findings suggest that the TCI may provide beneficial effects when muscle fatigue occurs for a high heeled shoe gait. Future research employing the patient population and various types of TCI materials are required to clarify the effects of TCI.

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of high-heeled shoes on walking of obese women as it was already proven an extrinsic factor of knee osteoarthritis in women with normal weight. In this study the aimed therefore in particular was to utilize high-heeled shoes in proving it's causal influence on knee osteoarthritis by measuring the angle and torque of the knee joint. Fifteen obese women (BMI>25 ) were measured in their twenties. Each angle and torque of their knee joints during walking on 6.5 cm high-heeled shoes and with a bare feet, were compared with each other and analyzed with a 3D motion analysis system. There was no significant difference in walking speed, cadence and stride length between the two conditions. However, there was a significant increase in a double limb support time and the stance phase when walking on high-heeled shoes as when walking with bare feet. The peak knee flexion angle and peak knee varus torque was higher when walking on high-heeled shoes than with bare feet. On the contrary, the peak knee flexion angle in the swing phase was not statistically different. The prolongation of peak knee varus torque was also proven. There was a significant increase in peak knee varus torque in the initial and last stance phases during walking on high-heeled shoes as compared to walking on bare feet. Through the above results, it was proven that when obese women walked on high-heeled shoes, rather than with bare feet, peak knee flexor and varus torque increased along with the changes of the in knee joint angle. Therefore, the influence of high-heeled shoes might be a significant intrinsic factor in knee osteoarthritis of obese 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.