The Effects of High Heeled Shoes on Plantar Pressure and Muscle Fatigue

Kim, Sei Joo; Kim, Dong Hwee; Na, Jin Kyung; Yoon, Joon Shik; Lee, Sang Heon

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of high heeled shoes on plantar pressure and muscle fatigue. The subjects were 36 women who were divided into three groups, i.e., high heel, middle heel and low heel. The mean height of each heel was over 7 cm, 5 cm and below 2 cm respectively. The plantar pressure was measured by F scan system. The fatigue of subjects was evaluated with endurance time and voluntary maximal contraction that was measured by Cybex 6000 system and the degrees of foot pain and fatigue by visual analogue scale. With high heeled shoes, the plantar pressure was shifted from hindfoot to forefoot, and from the lateral part to the medial part in forefoot. With all shoes, the plantar pressure was generally increased in the forefoot after 8 hours. Especially the pressure of medial and middle parts of forefoot was significantly increased on high heeled shoes. Voluntary maximal contraction and endurance time was significantly decreased in subjects with high heeled shoes for 8 hours. The degrees forefooot pain and fatigue by visual analogue scale were very significantly increased in subjects with high heeled shoes. With low heeled shoes, the fatigue was the least degree and the middle heeled shoes are recommendable for cosmetic needs and lesser fatigue and pain. In conclusion, when women were in high heeled shoes for a long time, the pressure of forefoot and foot pain and fatigue were increased. Therefore, these effects of high heeled shoes on the plantar pressure and fatigue should be considered in women with high heeled shoes.