Gait variability of interlimb coordination in high-heeled shoes with detachable base sockets under conditions of sinusoidal speed change

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of wearing high-heeled shoes (HHS) on gait variability of the lower limbs when the treadmill speed was sinusoidally changed.

Methods: A total of 17 young females walked on a treadmill with HHS, HHS with detachable base sockets (HHS-Sockets), and low-heeled shoes (LHS) under sinusoidal speed-changing protocol of 60-s and 30-s periods with an amplitude of ± 0.56 m·s^-1. The time course of the joint elevation angles of the thigh, shank, and foot in one gait cycle can be well approximated like a plane in a triaxial space, so-called intersegmental coordination (IC). Standard deviation of the plane (IC thickness) was considered as the anteroposterior gait variability when the best-fitting plane of the angular covariation was obtained. The lateral gait variability was the coefficient of variance of step width (CV_SW). To examine whether the gait parameters was associated with IC thickness, a sum of the time delay of the stride length and step frequency (TD_SL+SF) against sinusoidal speed change was calculated.

Results: The IC thickness was not different across shoe conditions and periods. The CV_SW was greater in the HHS and HHS-Sockets conditions than in the LHS condition. TD_SL+SF was greater in the HHS condition than in the LHS and HHS-Sockets conditions at both periods; however, it was not correlated with IC thickness.

Significance: Walking with HHS increased lateral gait variability at faster speed-changing situation, but not anteroposterior gait variability. Detachable sockets expanding the base area ten times greater than that of HHS could reduce TD_SL+SF; however, TD_SL+SF could not explain the IC thickness.

Keywords: Dynamic balance; Fall risk; Gait stability; Locomotion; Planar covariation law.