Effect of Tight-fitting High-heeled Shoes on the Activities of the VMO, BF, and GCM Muscles during Stair Ascent

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tight-fitting high-heeled shoes on vastus medialis oblique (VMO), biceps femoris (BF), and gastrocnemius (GCM) during stair ascent. [Subjects] Fifteen female subjects were recruited. [Methods] The subjects ascended stairs with a step height of 20 cm wearing loose- and tight-fitting high-heeled shoes, and the activities of the VMO, BF and GCM muscles were recorded using EMG. [Results] The normalized EMG data of the VMO muscle significantly decreased when wearing the tight high-heeled shoes during ascend the stair when compared to the loose high-heeled shoes. The normalized EMG data of the BF, and GCM muscles significantly increased when wearing the tight high-heeled shoes during stair ascent compared to the loose high-heeled shoes. [Conclusion] We think that tight-fitting high-heeled shoes may more easily cause muscle imbalance; therefore, tight-fitting high-heeled shoes would raise the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in young women.