1. INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Whether it be dress code for work or to attend a social gathering or simply personal preference, high heels are a staple in most women’s closets. Surveys suggest that 37-69% of women wear high heels daily (Cronin, 2014), while 93% of women wear heels at least some of the time (Jind Aguirre, 2015). Of this 93% of women, less than 50% report finding them comfortable (Jind Aguirre, 2015). This finding is likely due to the fact that high heels alter your gait cycle. All humans have a natural way in which they walk - one that is comfortable for them - and ideally avoids excessive joint stress as well as injury. Wearing a high heel anatomically alters the position of the foot and thus alters one's natural gait. Alterations in this natural gait can cause a plethora of structural issues over time. Although it is less visible, this type of footwear also affects the kinematics and kinetics of the knees, hips, and even the spine (Brown, 2017). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ankle in further detail as well as the knee to get a true understanding of how heel height affects joint angles. We measured the joint angles in three conditions: low high heels (2"), tall high heels (4"), and no heels (barefoot). Likely, both step and stride length may also be altered in effort to compensate for the changes in gait. Thus, both step and stride length were monitored throughout the study as well. We hypothesize that both step and stride length will decrease as heel height increases. Additionally, we expect to see an increase in ankle plantar flexion and an increase in knee flexion.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Various studies have investigated the negative effects of high heels on everyday tasks. Literature suggests that wearing high heels on a day-to-day basis can increase one's fall risk and leaves the individual susceptible to developing injuries that affect one's ankles, knees, pelvis, and spine (Sipio, 2018). Wearing high heels forces the foot into plantar flexion, thus increasing the stress that is put on the foot and ankle. This added stress changes the individual's center of mass and decreases their base of support, which increases fall risk (Sipio, 2018). Additionally, wearing high heeled shoes too frequently can change the angle of certain joints and ultimately increase the risk for injury and pain. Other studies have found that high heels cause a decrease in step and stride length, displaying how wearing high heels can alter one’s gait in multiple ways (Maduabuchi, 2012). As more women begin to incorporate wearing high heels into their daily routine, the risk for injury due to alterations in joint angles becomes more prevalent, and therefore it is a necessary issue to consider further.