Combined Effects of High-heeled Shoes and Load Carriage on Gait and Posture in Young Healthy Women

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the combined effects of high-heeled shoes and load carriage on gait and posture adaptation. Furthermore, the adaptation of gait and posture to the combined two conditions was examined by a comparison of the measured parameters between experienced and novice groups. 30 participants underwent a quantitative measurement of temporospatial, kinematic, and kinetic parameters of hip, knee, and ankle on both loaded and unloaded limbs using 3D motion analysis. Double support time and stride length increased during high-heeled gait and the magnitude of alteration was greater with a load. Increased plantarflexion was main cause of raised heel. Ankle plantarflexor moment increased with high-heeled but decreased with load carriage. As a result, plantarflexor moment diminished, in addition knee extensor moment exaggerated further. Hip extensor moment increased with heel height but not with load weight, however, hip angle was affected only by the load.