Impact of high-heeled and sport shoes on multi-joint external load profile during walking
Article type: Research Article
Authors: Pino-Ortega, Joséa | Oliva-Lozano, José M.b | Gómez-Carmona, Carlos D.c; * | Rojas-Valverde, Danield | Bastida-Castillo, Alejandroa | Moreno-Pérez, Victore | Nakamura, Fabio Y.f; g
Affiliations: [a] BioVetMed & Sport Sci Research Group, Physical Activity and Sports Department, International Excellence Campus “Mare Nostrum”, Faculty of Sports Science, University of Murcia, San Javier, Spain | [b] Health Research Centre, University of Almería, Almería, Spain | [c] Research Group in Optimization of Training and Sports Performance (GOERD), Didactics of Music, Plastic and Body Expression Department, Faculty of Sports Science, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain | [d] Center of Research and Diagnosis in Health and Sports (CIDISAD), School of Human Movement Sciences an d Quality of Life (CIEMHCAVI), Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica | [e] Pathology and Surgery Deparment, Faculty of Sports Science, Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain | [f] Associate Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Brazil | [g] Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University Institute of Maia (ISMAI), Maia, Portugal
Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Carlos D. Gómez-Carmona, Research Group in Optimization of Training and Sports Performance (GOERD), Department of Didactics of Music, Plastic and Body Expression, Sport Science Faculty, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 10071 Caceres, Spain. Tel.: +34 664233394; E-mail: cgomezcu@alumnos.unex.es.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Previous studies have analysed the effect of wearing high-heeled shoes (HHS) on gait analysis, balance and its relation to health. However, further research is needed to study its effect on the difference of chain reactions in the transfer of body impacts from the lower to the upper limbs. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present research were: (a) to compare the effects of wearing HHS on impacts across body joints during walking with sport shoes (SS) as a reference, and (b) to examine such effects at different speeds. METHODS: Seven well-trained women completed this study. Incremental treadmill walking test were performed with two different footwear: SS and HHS. Inertial devices were used to quantify the chain reactions at selected anatomical lower limbs and trunk locations. Statistical analysis included the Wilcoxon test with ranges and Cohen’s d effect size with percentage of differences. RESULTS: The highest values were found at the heel in both footwear and in both legs (SS: right =0.76 ± 0.27, left = 0.79 ± 0.27; HHS: right = 1.07 ± 0.38, left = 1.11 ± 0.41), while the lowest values were registered at lower and upper back. Furthermore, significant differences were found with the HHS load being higher at all locations (p< 0.05; %=𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓 12.20–36.36%), influenced by the walking speed. In addition, a strong influence of footwear in the change of the laterality profile was found (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the use of HHS increase the load on the lower limb and the trunk. Until reaching 5 km/h during walking, no significant differences were found between wearing HHS or SS in accelerometer load, producing exponential differences from this speed. The great between-subject variability implies that within-subject analysis is recommended, as it is more related to real clinical practice.
Keywords: Footwear, accelerometry, assessment, health, gait biomechanics
DOI: 10.3233/BMR-191591
Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 389-398, 2021
