Thesis Archive
A Predictive Model on Effects of High – heeled Shoes on Lumbar and Leg muscles on Women Exposed to Prolonged Static Standing (2010)
Javellana
Joquico
Tiu
Abstract:
-Wearing high-heeled shoes in prolonged standing causes an increase in the muscle activity in the lateral gastrocnemius of legs as well as the L1/L2 and L4/L5 erector spinae located in the lower back. Since the foot becomes plantar flexed while wearing high-heeled shoes, the contraction of the leg muscles increases in order to adjust to the position which can lead to muscle pains; the L1/L2 and L4/L5 readings also increases in muscle activity since the muscle will have to contract, in order to avoid falling forward when in high-heeled shoes since wearing high-heeled shoes causes the body to misalign, the muscle activity on the back may evolve into back pains, specifically, low back pains. However previous studies that dealt with high-heeled shoes only considered varying the heel height and no other high-heeled shoe characteristics. Also, there are no studies found that considered formulating a predictive model for the effects of high-heeled shoes on the lumbar and leg muscles. This study used electromyography to capture muscle activations of the muscles concerned and it is aimed to minimize the muscle activity experienced by the lateral gastrocnemius of both left and right legs, as well as the L1/L2 and L4/L5 erector spinae while women who are exposed to prolonged standing are wearing high-heeled shoes. With the use of the Design Expert Software, a predictive model that would incorporate the factors associated to the muscle activities would be formed. Optimum values for the combination of heel height as well as area of the heel are generated to induce minimal muscle activation from the muscles concerned in the study.
Adviser:
Mr. Edgar Mutuc