Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the biomechanical accommodations to high-heeled shoes varied with age and experience in wearing high-heeled shoes. A t-test analysis was undertaken of the differences between low- and high-heeled gait in angles of rotation of the knee, hip, pelvis, upper trunk, and trunk. Biomechanical accommodations in gait caused by high-heeled shoes varied between younger and older individuals and between experienced and inexperienced wearers of high-heeled shoes. Younger subjects tended to increase lordosis of the trunk at heelstrike during high-heeled gait, whereas older subjects tended to flatten the trunk. Experienced wearers had much greater increases in knee flexion during stance phase of high-heeled gait than inexperienced wearers. Exaggerated upper trunk rotations were found in older and inexperienced subject groups rather than younger, and experienced groups. Verf.-Referat