2016 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 133-137
This study examined the influences of heel heights on gait parameters and lower-limb muscle activity, involving 14 healthy adult females. On comparison of gait parameters and lower-limb muscle activity during gait among shoes without heels and with heel heights of 3 and 7 cm, the values representing the gait velocity, step, and stride length were significantly lower when wearing shoes with a heel height of 7 cm. There were no marked differences in these gait parameters between shoes without heels and with a heel height of 3 cm. The double support phase significantly shortened when wearing shoes with heel heights of 3 and 7 cm compared with those without heels, while the swing phase markedly extended in the latter. Significant differences in lower-limb muscle activity were not observed in any of the 4 muscles measured. Based on these results, heel heights greater than 3 cm are likely to affect the stance and swing phases during gait,while the influences of a heel height of 3 cm or less on the gait velocity, step, or stride length may be slight.
