Effects of Wearing High Heels on Ankle Plantarflexion

Abstract: Wearing High Heels (HH) for prolong period may cause kinetics and kinematics changes of lower extremity. It may lead to musculoskeletal deformities.Objective:To determine the effects of wearing different high heel shoes on ankle joint plantar flexion range.Methadology: 120 healthy university students who habitually wore shoes of different heel heights from 1cm to 10cm for at least 1 academic year, more than 5 days a week were selectively recruited. Participants were grouped according to their heel heights: flat, low, mid and high heels. Ankle plantarflexion was measured using universal goniometer in all 4 groups.Results:Overall plantarflexion range was significantly affected by heel height (p-value <0.001). Wearing high heel s s ignificantly inc reased the plantar flexion range as compared to flat shoe wearers (p-value <0.001). There was statistically significant difference in plantarflexion range according to heel height (p<0.001).Conclusion: Wearing high heels shoes for 1 year enhanced the plantarflexion range of motion in all heel groups and the change was most significant in HH group. Habitually wearing of high heels increases the plantarflexion range of motion in heel wearing groups but it was not seen in flat shoes group (FSG). Increase in range depends on heel height; increasing the heel height results into increase plantarflexion range. Keywords: High heels; Heel height; Plantarflexion ; Range of motion