Influence of Walking With High-Heeled Shoes on the Knee Joint of Obese Women

하이힐 보행이 비만여성의 슬관절에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of high-heeled shoes on walking of obese women as it was already proven an extrinsic factor of knee osteoarthritis in women with normal weight. In this study the aimed therefore in particular was to utilize high-heeled shoes in proving it's causal influence on knee osteoarthritis by measuring the angle and torque of the knee joint. Fifteen obese women (BMI>25 $kg/m^2$) were measured in their twenties. Each angle and torque of their knee joints during walking on 6.5 cm high-heeled shoes and with a bare feet, were compared with each other and analyzed with a 3D motion analysis system. There was no significant difference in walking speed, cadence and stride length between the two conditions. However, there was a significant increase in a double limb support time and the stance phase when walking on high-heeled shoes as when walking with bare feet. The peak knee flexion angle and peak knee varus torque was higher when walking on high-heeled shoes than with bare feet. On the contrary, the peak knee flexion angle in the swing phase was not statistically different. The prolongation of peak knee varus torque was also proven. There was a significant increase in peak knee varus torque in the initial and last stance phases during walking on high-heeled shoes as compared to walking on bare feet. Through the above results, it was proven that when obese women walked on high-heeled shoes, rather than with bare feet, peak knee flexor and varus torque increased along with the changes of the in knee joint angle. Therefore, the influence of high-heeled shoes might be a significant intrinsic factor in knee osteoarthritis of obese women.