Phenomenon on Wearing Heeled Shoes with Different Height and Contact Area to Appearance, Stability, Plantar Pressure Distribution, Posture, Leg Muscle Activity and Fatigue during Standing

• Main Author: KIEM AVIANI (NIM : 10613011), JENIFER
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/22683
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

In modern society, people who live in urban cities need comfortable shoes which can support various daily activities and have attractive appearance. Especially in women, shoes have high aesthetic values because shoes are considered improve appearance and enhance confidence. Contrast with attractive appearance, high heeled shoes have negative effects on health. High heel shoes could reduce: muscle movement around ankle, total foot movement, and balance control that may cause injury. This research is purposed to observe shoes preferences profile, perception on wearing high heels to appearance and confidence, and physiological phenomenon when wearing heeled shoes during standing: stability, body posture, plantar pressure distribution, and muscle activity and fatigue rate. Perception on high heels and subject selection were done using online questionnaire. Seven female subjects (age: 19-21 years old, height= 148-157 cm, weight= 50-55 kg) were selected to participate in this experiment. Experiment was consisted of 4 tests: 1) standing balance on force plate that could saw centre of pressure/COP movement as stability parameter; 2) body posture using sagittal view photograph; 3) plantar pressure distribution using home-made piezoelectric insole, a transducer that converts pressure into voltage; 4) muscle activity and fatigue using electromyogram MyoWare in 4 muscles (a) extensor digitorum brevis (EDB), (b) gastrocnemiu (Gas), (c) rectus femoris (RF), and (d) erector spinae (ES). In each test, all subjects were asked to stand while wearing 11 types of shoes with 4 different height and 3 different diameter and bare foot as control. Final results show that: (1) shoes type don’t have significant effect on stability (Friedman, p>0.05), however the result showed stability rank from unstable to stable: pointed high, chunky, wedges high; (2) body posture according to Two-Way ANOVA (p<0.05) significantly different in bare foot and pointed mid (p=0.012), body landmark significantly different in plantar flexion angle when wearing different type of shoes; (3) there isn’t any significant difference when wearing different type of shoes in plantar pressure distribution, however heel height affected front foot pressure significantly (p=0.04); (4) muscle activity is highest and fatigue is fastest in pointed very high shoes, the fastest fatigue was shown by extensor digitorum brevis muscle. In conclusion, wearing pointed type and high heel shoes decrease stability, increase frontal pressure, muscle activity and muscle fatigue, also affect body posture. Shoe type preferences was based on comfort rate and effect to appearance. ITB students wear sneakers and flat shoes daily, when hang out the wear wedges that are fashionable but comfortable, while in formal occasions, they wear stiletto shoes that improve appearance.