Effect of heel height on lower limb biomechanics during stair descent in young women: a laboratory study.

BACKGROUND

Stair descent in high heels is risky for young women. Existing studies have focused on level walking, but research on stair descent biomechanics with different heel heights is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of heel heights on the biomechanical parameters of the lower limbs, joint stiffness and work pattern in young women during stair descent.

METHODS

Twenty-five young women walked downstairs wearing high heels heights (1 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm, and 7 cm). Kinematic and kinetic data of the lower limb joints were synchronously collected using the Vicon infrared motion capture system and AMTI force plates.

RESULTS

The ankle stiffness decreased at 3 cm (P = 0.035), 5 cm (P < 0.001) and 7 cm (P < 0.001), compared with a heel height of 1 cm. The ankle joint net work significantly decreased at 7 cm compared with 1 cm (P = 0.017) and 3 cm (P = 0.003). The work contribution of the ankle joint significantly decreased at 7 cm compared with 1 cm (P = 0.017) and 3 cm (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Young women wearing 7 cm heels significantly affected ankle biomechanics during stair descent, reducing ankle net work, work contribution, and stiffness. Therefore, it is recommended that young women prioritize footwear with heel heights below 7 cm during stair descent.