Influence of different footwear on posture and trunk muscle activity

Abstract

Introduction: The use of high heels has been increasingly frequent in the daily life of women. Objective: To investigate the behavior of stabilizer lumbar muscles and the postural alterations caused by the use of different footwear during standing position. Methods: Twenty healthy women were photographed in the standing position in different situations: barefoot, with tennis shoes and with high heeled shoes. In addition, the volunteers performed two other tasks: keeping the shoulders flexed at 45 and 90 degrees. The posture and electromyographic activity of the multifidus, iliocostalis, rectus abdominis and transversus abdominis muscles were evaluated. Results: The comparison of different footwear with same task of upper limbs did not showed significantly difference. However, the comparison of different tasks with upper limb when using the same footwear altered activity of erector muscles and head, cervical and thoracic angles. Conclusion: The use of high-heeled shoes does not change posture and activity of lumbar stabilizer muscle during standing position. Clinical Trial Registration number: ACTRN12610000470099.