Precocity has been noticed in the use of high-heeled shoes. However, there are not many studies on its consequences. The aim of this work was to search for equilibrium alterations in young women used to daily wearing high-heeled shoes. Thirty female undergraduates (mean aged 20 years old) were asked to write down, for two weeks, the number of hours per day they remained with the shoes on. They were then assessed as to posture deviations, as to muscle retractions of the posterior chain by means of the sit and reach test, and as to equilibrium by the Romberg test. Results were statistically analysed. Mean volunteers' height was 1.63 m and mean body mass, 58.5 kg. A negative, strong correlation (r=-0.8692; p<0.0001) was noticed between reach range and weekly time (in hours) of high-heeled shoe wearing. No correlation was found between reach range and time of high-heel use in years. Seventeen out of the 30 volunteers presented positive test for loss of equilibrium when barefoot with closed eyes. A weak, negative correlation (r=-0.4178; p=0.0216) was found between loss of equilibrium and weekly time of high-heel use. A positive moderate correlation was found between reach range and time of equilibrium (r=0.6078; p<0.0004). The use of high-heeled shoes for more than four hours per day can hence be said to cause equilibrium changes and muscle retraction in young women.
Musculoskeletal equilibrium; Posture; Shoes
