BIOMECHANICAL EFFECTS OF FOAM INSERTS ON FOREFOOT LOAD DURING THE HIGH-HEELED GAIT: A PILOT STUDY

This pilot study analyzed the loading on the medial forefoot (MF) region during walking in high-heel shoes. Eight healthy female volunteers have participated in this study with the heel height varied from 0 cm (flat), 4.5 cm (low), and 8.5 cm (high). The results showed that the load on MF increased with the heel height and the magnitude of the load could be effectively reduced by using foam inserts. Comparative studies of foams with different hardness and thicknesses showed that thicker soft foams had a significant advantage over thiner hard foams (P < 0.05) in reducing the peak pressures. An optimum condition with a thick soft insert could reduce MF pressure by 26%, impact force by 27%, and force time integral by 20% when compared to the condition without insert.

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