Foot clearance distance and joint kinematics during stepping over an obstacle in high heeled gait

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Published: Dec 2, 2015
Keywords:
Obstacle crossing High-heeled shoe Gait Biomechanics Vertical clearance

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Tippawan Meetam
Division of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Srinakharinwirot University
Pawinee Charoensittisup
Division of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Srinakharinwirot University
Apa Panmontha
Division of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Srinakharinwirot University
Witthawin Sae-Lee
Division of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Srinakharinwirot University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare joints kinematics and clearance distances during obstacle crossing between wearing high heel shoes (HH) and bare feet (BF) conditions. Twelve healthy young female subjects (N =12; aged 20.58 ± 1.50 years) were participated in this study. The subjects were asked to walk along a   9-meter walkway at preferred speed and step over an obstacle in two conditions; wearing HH shoes and BF. The obstacle was set up at the middle of walkway and its height was adjusted to 20% of individual’s right leg length. Angular displacement of the hip, knee and ankle joints in sagittal plane, vertical toe and heel clearance distances in leading limb (LL) and trialing limb (TL) when the foot was over the obstacle were recorded. A paired-t test was used to test for the differences between HH and BF conditions. Results showed that the vertical toe clearance distance was significantly higher in HH condition for both LL     (p-value <0.001) and TL (p-value <0.05). The ankle angle was greater in HH condition representing as ankle plantar flexion for LL (p-value <0.001) and TL (p-value <0.05). A significantly smaller hip angle was observed in HH condition for LL (p-value <0.05) and TL (p-value <0.01). This present study concluded that the restriction of ankle joint motion imposed by high heeled shoes during obstacle crossing was compensated by flexion of the hip for LL and TL limbs.

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How to Cite
1.
Meetam T, Charoensittisup P, Panmontha A, Sae-Lee W. Foot clearance distance and joint kinematics during stepping over an obstacle in high heeled gait. Thai J Phys Ther [internet]. 2015 Dec. 2 [cited 2026 Jan. 18];37(3):126-35. available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tjpt/article/view/114082
Issue
Vol. 37 No. 3 (2015): September-December 2015
Section
Research Articles

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