The Effects of Wearing High Heeled Shoes on Pedal Pressure in Women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of increased heel height in women's shoes on foot pressure during walking. An increase in heel height increased the maximum peak pressure under the metatarsal heads in the forefoot, decreased the time to maximum peak pressure under the metatarsal heads, and increased the rate of loading to the metatarsals during early support. The higher pressures noted with increased heel height were accompanied by a more uniform distribution of pressure beneath the forefoot. These findings may denote increased stress to the various tissues in the foot when walking in high heeled shoes, which may contribute to deleterious orthopaedic changes. Quantitative studies need to be conducted to determine whether orthopaedic changes occur with prolonged wearing of high heeled shoes.