Effects of an Insole for High-heeled Shoes Designed to Reduce Forward Foot Sliding on Balance during Single-legged Activities

Abstract

[Purpose] Wearing high-heeled shoes often alters the gait pattern, induces foot and ankle pain, or causes injuries such as ankle sprain. The objective of this study was to determine how an insole designed to prevent the foot from sliding in high-heeled shoes affects balance during standing activities. [Participants and Methods] The participants were twenty, healthy young females. The subjects’ balance while wearing high-heeled shoes with and without the insole was measured using a commercial stabilometer during three motion tasks: single-legged standing with eyes open, single-legged squat with eyes open, and stepping activity with eyes open. Total trajectory length, trajectory length per unit of time, area of center-of-mass movement, anteroposterior position vector, and mediolateral position vector were compared between with and without the insole. [Results] Body movement during single-legged squat and stepping activity was significantly decreased. [Conclusion] Wearing an insole for high-heeled shoes may improve balance while descending stairs and during gait.