Free Health Dissertations - The Results Showed That Both High Heeled Conditions Were Associated With
The results showed that both high heeled conditions were associated with greater relative joint angles than the barefoot condition, and there was a decrease in stride length when walking in heels. Furthermore, wearing high heels was associated with the most gait distortion as reflected by the researchers observation that, maximum angle values for the high heel conditions occurred following heel strike, where as during barefoot gait the values surrounding heel strike were considerably less than the peak angle found at toe-off (p 465). Esenyel, Walsh, Walden and Gitter (2003) have found similar findings in their study of the gait of 15 female subjects and, in particular, confirm that high-heeled shoes are associated with lower-limb, knee and hip adaptation during walking that is not present in flat-shoe walking.
The aim of the present study will be to replicate the work of Godwin et al (2004) with five healthy adult female subjects, of similar weight and age to the original study. The main hypothesis will be that wearing high heeled shoes decreases the stride length and speed of each stride while walking, compared to the no-heel footwear. Other hypotheses that were proposed in the original study by Godwin et al (2004) will also be considered as part of the present study. By including five separate subjects it is hoped that individual differences in the impact of heeled shoes on stride length can be explored. Subjects will be filmed during walking activities under the separate conditions of the experiment to measure the heel size by walking pace effects that will form the basis for hypothesis testing. A gait cycle will be measured as left toe-on platform to left toe off-platform angles and obtained for the three conditions of the experiment. The variables under measurement in the experiment will be knee and hip angles measured during a gait cycle, along with angular velocity in the ankle, knee and hip joints. The experimental conditions are two heel sizes (flat heel/ high heeled shoes) and walking at natural pace, and a further condition of walking in five inch heels at a natural pace. In the original study by Godwin et al (2004), a number of statistical results have been reported on the relationship between heel size and stride length and limb angles. It will be the intention of the present study to compare results from five women tested under similar conditions, to this earlier finding. No formal statistical testing will be appropriate since only five subjects will be included in the present study. However, means and standard deviations associated with each condition will be presented, along with a qualitative exploration of individual differences between the women where appropriate.
As with many research studies in this field, the research design has methodological limitations.
Dissertations - Free Health Dissertations
