TY - JOUR
T1 - Suitable Heel Height, a Potential Method for Musculoskeletal Problems during the Third Trimester
T2 - A Pilot Study
AU - Wei, Linjuan
AU - Wang, Yan
AU - Peng, Yinghu
AU - Zhang, Guoxin
AU - Tan, Qitao
AU - Gu, Yaodong
AU - Zhang, Ming
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.
PY - 2024/7
Y1 - 2024/7
N2 - Background: The treatment options for third-trimester musculoskeletal issues are limited. This study aims to examine how heel height affects gait biomechanics and provides heel height recommendations for various musculoskeletal problems. Methods: Five third-trimester gravidas were recruited wearing uniform footwear with four heel heights (0 mm, 15 mm, 30 mm, and 45 mm). Lower-limb muscle forces, joint angles, joint torques, joint contact forces, and ground reaction forces (GRF) at specific moments (the first peak, valley, and second peak of GRF) were collected for one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures. Results: The soleus, gastrocnemius, tibialis posterior, plantaris, obturator externus, gluteus maximus, gemellus superior, and obturator internus were the smallest at heel heights of 45 mm and 15 mm at the valley of GRF. Hip extension and knee flexion displayed the smallest joint angle and joint torques at a height of 15 mm. Ankle joint contact force decreased with increased heel height. Conclusions: The height of the heel significantly impacts muscle force, joint angles, joint torques, and joint contact force. A heel of 15 mm might be the most suitable heel height to potentially avoid or alleviate musculoskeletal problems during the third trimester.
AB - Background: The treatment options for third-trimester musculoskeletal issues are limited. This study aims to examine how heel height affects gait biomechanics and provides heel height recommendations for various musculoskeletal problems. Methods: Five third-trimester gravidas were recruited wearing uniform footwear with four heel heights (0 mm, 15 mm, 30 mm, and 45 mm). Lower-limb muscle forces, joint angles, joint torques, joint contact forces, and ground reaction forces (GRF) at specific moments (the first peak, valley, and second peak of GRF) were collected for one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures. Results: The soleus, gastrocnemius, tibialis posterior, plantaris, obturator externus, gluteus maximus, gemellus superior, and obturator internus were the smallest at heel heights of 45 mm and 15 mm at the valley of GRF. Hip extension and knee flexion displayed the smallest joint angle and joint torques at a height of 15 mm. Ankle joint contact force decreased with increased heel height. Conclusions: The height of the heel significantly impacts muscle force, joint angles, joint torques, and joint contact force. A heel of 15 mm might be the most suitable heel height to potentially avoid or alleviate musculoskeletal problems during the third trimester.
KW - gait biomechanics
KW - heel height
KW - third trimester
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85200038510
U2 - 10.3390/bioengineering11070667
DO - 10.3390/bioengineering11070667
M3 - 文章
AN - SCOPUS:85200038510
SN - 2306-5354
VL - 11
JO - Bioengineering
JF - Bioengineering
IS - 7
M1 - 667
ER -