Walking in high-heel shoes induces redistribution of joint power and work

Figures & data

Figure 1. Ensemble average sagittal plane joint angle, moment and power profiles for the ankle, knee and hip joints. * indicates significant differences (p < 0.05) in peak joint powers and work performed between the high-heel and barefoot walking conditions during the specific power phases.

Table 1. Peak net joint powers across the power phases of a gait cycle.

Power phases	Peak power (W·kg^−1)		t value (t13)	p value	Cohen’s d
	Barefoot	High-heel
A1-ankle power absorption early-mid stance	−0.851 ± 0.261	−0.734 ± 0.138	−1.41	0.183	0.54
A2-ankle power generation late stance*	4.453 ± 0.904	1.785 ± 0.700	18.83	<0.001	5.03
K0-knee power generation early stance*	0.404 ± 0.095	0.548 ± 0.134	−5.36	<0.001	1.44
K1-knee power absorption early-mid stance*	−0.794 ± 0.324	−1.242 ± 0.562	3.73	0.003	1.00
K2-knee power generation mid-stance*	0.832 ± 0.374	1.645 ± 0.424	−7.83	<0.001	2.09
K3-knee power absorption early swing	−1.934 ± 0.638	−2.118 ± 0.532	1.07	0.305	0.29
K4-knee power absorption late swing	−1.554 ± 0.348	−1.407 ± 0.376	−1.54	0.147	0.41
H1-hip power generation early stance*	0.256 ± 0.116	0.565 ± 0.246	−4.46	0.001	1.19
H2-hip power absorption mid stance*	−0.811 ± 0.405	−1.477 ± 0.721	6.21	<0.001	1.66
H3-hip power generation late stance–early swing*	1.558 ± 0.361	2.103 ± 0.433	−4.57	0.001	1.22

Data presented as mean ±1 standard deviation (SD). * denotes significant difference (p < 0.017).

Table 2. Net joint work across the power phases of a gait cycle.

Power phases	Work (J·kg^−1)		t value (t13)	p value	Cohen’s d
	Barefoot	High-heel
A1-ankle negative work early-mid stance *	−0.145 ± 0.045	−0.096 ± 0.036	−4.61	p < 0.001	1.22
A2-ankle positive work late stance*	0.377 ± 0.070	0.128 ± 0.058	30.65	<0.001	8.12
K0-knee positive work early stance*	0.014 ± 0.005	0.028 ± 0.010	−5.77	<0.001	1.51
K1-knee negative work early-mid stance	−0.050 ± 0.023	−0.073 ± 0.040	2.69	0.018	0.72
K2-knee positive work mid-stance*	0.103 ± 0.053	0.247 ± 0.057	−10.25	<0.001	2.75
K3-knee negative work early swing	−0.261 ± 0.089	−0.263 ± 0.054	0.08	0.932	0.03
K4-knee negative work late swing	−0.141 ± 0.032	−0.135 ± 0.036	−0.85	0.411	0.25
H1-hip positive work early wtance*	0.022 ± 0.016	0.064 ± 0.027	−4.39	0.001	1.84
H2-hip negative work mid-stance *	−0.065 ± 0.027	−0.045 ± 0.023	2.86	0.013	0.74
H3-hip positive work late stance–early swing*	0.242 ± 0.049	0.302 ± 0.038	−4.81	<0.001	1.29

Data presented as mean ±1SD. * denotes significant difference (p < 0.017).

Table 3. Biomechanical plasticity ratios for walking.

	Barefoot	High-heel	t-value (t13)	p	Cohen’s d
Peak net joint power generation ratios
Knee mid-stance/ankle late-stance power ratio (K2/A2 power)*	0.193 ± 0.093	1.068 ± 0.534	−6.58	<0.001	1.76
Hip early-stance/ankle late-stance power ratio (H1/A2 power)*	0.067 ± 0.035	0.396 ± 0.338	−3.97	0.002	1.04
Hip late stance–early swing/ankle late-stance power ratio (H3/A2 power)*	0.361 ± 0.095	1.481 ± 0.987	−4.51	0.001	1.20
Net joint positive work ratios
Knee mid-stance/ankle late-stance work ratio (K2/A2 work)*	0.281 ± 0.164	2.368 ± 1.284	−6.36	<0.001	1.70
Hip early-stance/ankle late-stance work ratio (H1/A2 work)	0.063 ± 0.060	0.771 ± 1.053	−2.64	0.020	0.71
Hip late stance–early swing/ankle late-stance work ratio (H3/A2 work)*	0.654 ± 0.136	3.083 ± 2.000	−4.70	<0.001	1.26

Data presented as mean ±1 SD. * denotes significant difference (p < 0.017).

Data availability statement

The participants in the study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly and therefore, the supporting data is not available.