• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.479-486
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of high-heeled shoe on the quiet standing and gait balance. Twenty women (mean height: $161.6{\pm}3.3\;cm$, mean body mass: $53.8{\pm}6.3\;kg$, mean age: $23.8{\pm}2.7$ yrs..) who were without history or complain of lower limb pain took part in this study. They were asked to stand quietly on a force platform for 30 sec and walk on it at their preferred walking speed (mean speed $3.14{\pm}0.5\;km/hr$.) with wearing three different high-heeled shoe, 3, 7, 9 cm high for collecting data. Data were randomly recorded to collect two trials for quiet standing and five trials for walking The parameters to have been analyzed for comparison between three conditions of the height of high-heeled shoe were COP(Center of Pressure) range, COP velocity, sway area, and free moment on the static balance and COP range, COP velocity, and free moment on the dynamic balance. In this study, high-heel height affected on the COP range and velocity in the ante-posterior direction during walking, dynamic balance, but didn't affect on the quiet standing, static balance.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.316-322
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activation of lower extremity such as rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and soleus according to 0cm(bare foot), 4cm and 7cm heel height of shoe on the rocking surface in older women. 20 older women who did not have any lower musculoskeletal and neurological disorders in the past were participated in this study. Each subject was standing for 15 seconds on the level 8 of Biodex Stability System (BSS) while wearing 4cm and 7cm heel height shoes including bare foot. Electromyography was used to measure muscle activation of lower extremity, and the muscle activation was expressed as a percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (% MVIC). We measured % MVIC of three muscles during 5 seconds except for the first 5 seconds and last 5 seconds. SPSS 12.0 program was used for this study. Repeated one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) was performed to compare the significant difference among the muscles of lower extremities according to heel heights of shoe on the rocking plate. % MVIC of each muscle such as rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and soleus regarding heel heights of shoe had statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The results of contrast test were as follows; 1) % MVIC of rectus femoris had significant differences between barefoot and 4cm, and barefoot and 7cm. 2) % MVIC of tibialis anterior had significant differences between barefoot and 4cm, barefoot and 7cm, and 4cm and 7cm. 3) % MVIC of soleus had significant differences between barefoot and 7cm, 4cm and 7cm. The results indicate that all commonly responsive muscle on the conditions of barefoot, 4cm, and 7cm shoe height on the rcoking surface is tibialis anterior muscle. We found out that the more heels of shoe high, the more muscle activation increases. High-heeled shoes above 7cm remarkably increase the muscle activation of lower extremity and may result in muscle fatigue. Thus, these shoes may summate risk factors of falls in older women. We can acknowledge that the heels above 4 cm affect each muscle activation in lower extremity on the rocking surface.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.125-135
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• 2006

This study was to analyze the effect of dancesport heel-shoes heights on Rumba Cucarachas Movement in terms of analysis, and to provide the essential information to decide the proper heel-shoes heights for individual. six female subjects participated in this study. Dependent variables were set and divided into the amount of movement regarding the velocity and angle of the right elbow, pelvis, ankle, and knee. The following conclusion was drawn blow. 1) Angle: We all appeared in 5, 7, 9cm heel height so that we were similar in a knee and elbow angle and no significantly. The plantar flexion appeared greatly as an ankle angle's shoe high and significantly. 2) Velocity: An elbow velocity all appeared in a three shoes so that it was similar. We speed fast speed some in a 7cm heel height. A knee velocity expressed fast speed some in a 5cm heel height. The pelvis velocity in a that it was similar. Generaly, The aspect to be a dancesport competition o'clock and aesthetic is the height. and the muscular strength train after we need the thing to choose suitable to the individual shoe height. It is logical that the decision of heel-shoes heights should be made by anthropometric and sport dynamic analysis in order to maximize the dynamic and aesthetic aspect of dance sport.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.28-36
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the trunk and the lower limb muscles during quiet standing on an unstable surface while wearing low-heeled shoes (3 cm), high-heeled shoes (7 cm) and without footwear (0 cm) in 20 young healthy women. The subjects stood on an unstable surface for 30 seconds. We examined the differences in the EMG data of the erector spinae, rectus abdominis, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, and the gastrocnemius medialis muscle. A one-way repeated analysis of variance was used to compare the effects of shoe heel height on the EMG activity with the level of significance set at ${\alpha}=.05$. The EMG activity of the erector spinae and the rectus femoris were significantly increased (p<.05) in the subjects who wore elevated heel height, while the tibialis anterior and the gastrocnemius medialis were significantly decreased (p<.05). However, the rectus abdominis and the biceps femoris exhibited no significant difference among the three conditions. The above results indicate that wearing high-heeled shoes may change the postural strategy. The findings of this study suggest that excessive heel height could contribute to an increased fall risk during quiet standing.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.41-50
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• 2020

The consequences of wearing high heels can be different according to the heel height, gait speed, shoe design, heel base area, and shoe size. This study aimed to focus on the knee extension and flexion range of motion (ROM) during gait, which were challenged by wearing five different shoe heel types and two different self-selected gait speeds (comfortable and fast) as experimental conditions. Measurement standards of knee extension and flexion ROM were individually calibrated at the time of heel strike, mid-stance, toe-off, and stance phase based on the 2-minute video recordings of each gait condition. Seven healthy young women (20.7 ± 0.8 years) participated and they were asked to walk on a treadmill wearing the five given shoes at a self-selected comfortable speed (average of 2.4 ± 0.3 km/h) and a fast speed (average of 5.1 ± 0.2 km/h) in a random order. All of the shoes were in size 23.5 cm. Three of the given shoes were 9.0 cm in height, the other two were flat shoes and sneakers. A motion capture software (Kinovea 0.8.27) was used to measure the kinematic data; changes in the knee angles during each gait. During fast speed gait, the knee extension angles at heel strike and mid-stance were significantly decreased in all of the 3 high heels (p<0.05). The results revealed that fast gait speed causes knee flexion angle to significantly increase at toe-off in all five types of shoes. However, there was a significant difference in both the knee flexion and extension angles when the gait in stiletto heels and flat shoes were compared in fast gait condition (p<0.05). This showed that walking fast in high heels leads to abnormal knee ROM and thus can cause damages to the knee joints. The findings in this preliminary study can be a basis for future studies on the kinematic changes in the lower extremity during gait and for the analysis of causes and preventive methods for musculoskeletal injuries related to wearing high heels.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2013

The purpose of this research is to provide right information about deformation and to relieve fatigue of high-heels lovers. The research data includes 15 tests and survey on 71 female students. The result follows 1. Age of surveys is mostly 22, consisting 43.7% of all. The most frequently worn shoe kind is high heels that 45.1% of surveys wear 2. Female students those are 155~160cm high wear high heels most frequently, 40.8%. 3. The fatigue condition classified by hours of wearing: Surveys wearing high heels over 7 hours and 5~7 hours state starting to feel fatigue by 40.8%, 38.0% each, and the result was stastically significant 4. The appearance of pain on calf classified by hours of wearing: 35.2% of surveys answered they start to feel pain when worn high heels over 7 hours, and 33.8% of students answered 5~7 hours 5. The fatigue condition classified by kinds of shoes worn: 45.0% of the surveys felt tired when wearing high heels, 40.8% answered wearing heel inserted running shoes, and 14.0% for flat shoes. 6. The fatigue condition classified by heel height: 69.0% of survey answered they feel fatigue after wearing shoes with 5~9cm high heels, 21.1% answered under 3cm high heels, and 9.9% answered over 10cm heels(p<0.05) 7. The experience of cramp in calf cramp muscle classified by heel height: 69.0% of surveys experienced cramp when wearing 5~9cm high heels, 21.1% answered under 3cm high heels, 9.9% for over 10cm heels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.2 s.161
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• pp.258-268
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• 2007

The purpose of this research is to develop functional midsole that can restrain the heightening of plantar pressure in forefoot pressure so as to develop high-heeled shoes that can lessen foot ailments among women. The pumps shoes used for the research were of the same pumps type last. The variant was heel height, 3cm, 6cm, and 9cm, and the shoes were made in both normal midsole and functional midsole. The variant was applied to investigate the changes of foot pressure on forefoot and hindfoot according to heel height.'Heel Cup' was chosen for modification of functional midsolepumps type. to enlarge contact area in hindfoot, and 'Heel Posting Pad' was attached under sustentaculum tali to suppress the weight moving to forefoot pressure. If such functional parts are developed and used, it is possible to lessen the amount of Pmax or Impulse imposed by high-heeled pumps type on forefoot pressure. This can greatly lessen foot ailments, largely caused by high-heeled shoes, among women.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.604-615
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to investigate whether heel height changes in the U.S. market occur in a cyclical pattern and heel heights show greater within-year variability over time. Heel height data from U.S. Vogue's spring and fall editions were analyzed over the time period 1950~2014. A total of 1581 pieces of data were measured in millimeter units using Adobe Illustrator and standardized by dividing the height of the heel by the shoe length through the curved sole line. To analyze the cycle pattern of heel heights, the yearly averages were standardized by using three-year moving average technique to average out the irregular components of time series data and give a better indication of the long-term fluctuation of heel height. To identify the degree of within-year variability of heel height, the standard deviation of the average measurements for a year was calculated, and then decade averages were drawn from the yearly averaged standard deviation. One-way ANOVA was conducted to compare the within-year variability of data in heel height over the time period studied by decade. The results showed: First, there was a trend toward higher heels from the early 1950s to 2011. Second, four cyclical movements of heel height were observed from 1950 to 2007, and heel heights gradually decreased after 2008. Third, the within-year variability significantly increased over time, especially after the 1980s.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.771-778
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• 2009

We aimed to determine the effect of heel height on foot pressure by comparing and analyzing data on foot pressure in shoes with different heel heights. Qn the basis of a previous study, we selected 3cm and 7cm as the shoe heel heights preferred by female college students. We divided 10 female students into forefoot and hindfoot to measure vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure. The average pressure on the forefoot was higher and that on the hindfoot was lower in the case of 7cm high-heeled shoes. The maximum pressure on the forefoot was significantly higher in the case of the 7cm heel height (p<.05). The vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure on the hindfoot were also significantly higher in the case of the 7cm heel height (p<.05). The results showed that wearing 7cm high-heeled shoes exerted greater maximum pressure on the forefoot and greater vertical force, maximum pressure, and average pressure on the Hndfoot. This leads to increase in confining pressure caused by high pressure distribution over the forefoot and increase in the pressure on the hindfoot, which may cause deformation of toes and heel pain over a long period. Therefore, female college students who wish to wear high heels are recommended to wear 3cm high-heeled shoes rather than 7cm high-heeled shoes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate onset timing of vastus medialis oblique(VMO) relative to vastus lateralis(VL) the VMO/VL electromyographic(EMG) ratio according to heel height Methods: A repeated measures design was used. Fifteen healthy female college students with no known knee musculoskeletal dysfunction were recruited this study. They carried out a standardised stair acent activity under 4 conditions; barefoot, and with heel height of 1, 3, 7 cm. Muscle activity was measured by surface EMG (Myosystem 1400A, Noraxon Inc., U.S.A). Data were analysed using $1{\times}4$ repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Onset timing differed with heel height(p<.05). However, the VMO/VL EMG ratio was not significantly difference between conditions. Conclusion: We found that 7 cm heel height delayed in VMO onset compared with 3 cm heel height during stair ascent, but no change in the relative EMG intensity of VMO and VL as measured by th VMO/VL ratio. The findings indicate that high-heeled shoes may have disadvantages in knee stability because of delayed onset of VMO. Due to a lack of knee joint stability, wearing of high heeled shoes should be avoided.