Effect of high heeled shoes on Human Balance

1
Effect of high heeled shoes on Human Balance

• Proposed Research by
• Nirosha P. Witana
• Department of IELM
• HKUST

2
Outline

• Introduction
• Research Gap
• Methodology
• Contribution

3
Introduction

• Why women wear high heeled shoes?
• Increase the stature
• To be attractive
• To be sexy
• To be formal

4
Popularity

• Survey conducted by American Podiatric Medical
  Association (2003)
• 503 subjects
• 72 wear High heeled shoes,
• 39 in regular basis / more than 8hrs per day
• No age limit
• 49 lt 25 years
• 31 gt 65 years

5
Whats the Problem ?

• Health Hazards
• Sprained Ankles
• Shorten Achilles Tendon
• Law back pain
• Foot pain

6
Research Gap

• Wearing high heels impairs the balance of the
  body,
• resulting in abnormal deviations of COP
  trajectory
• (Gefen et al. ,2001)
• causes ankle sprains and falls
• (Ebbeling, Hamill and Crssemeyer, 1994)
• anterior displacement of COP increases with the
  height of the heel (Han, Paik and Im, 1999)
  
• None of the studies have reported the COP change
  with the same heel height but different footbed
  shapes

7
Methodology

• Development of a Profile Assessment Device (PAD)
• Find out the most suitable footbed shape for
  higher heel heights
• Postural Stability
• Comfort

8
Profile Assessment Device
SHOE LAST
PAD
9
Plantar foot pressure and force
Pressure Sensor
10
Digitizing footbed Surface
3D Digitizer
11
Contribution

• Challenge the existing guidelines of footbed
  design in the industry
• Help local manufacturers to have a competitive
  edge in the design and development of healthy
  functional footwear.

12
Thank You