Gait and metabolic adaptation of walking with negative heel shoes

The purpose of this study was to explore the gait pattern and metabolic responses of walking with negative heel shoes as compared to walking with normal shoes. Nineteen female subjects were recruited, of whom 13 (aged 23.08 ± 3.9 years, body weight 50.18 ± 5.3 kg, and body height 1.63 ± 0.05 m) participated in the gait pattern study, and 6 (age 32.8 ± 6.6 years, body weight 58.3 ± 5.8 kg, and body height 1.64 ± 0.01 m) in the metabolic study. In the gait pattern study, movement kinematics and kinetic data were obtained by video analysis and force platform measurement during the process of walking at a constant speed of 1.33 m/s on a treadmill and over ground, respectively. In the metabolic study, heart rate and oxygen consumption were monitored during treadmill walking. The results showed that there was a significant difference between walking on a treadmill with negative heel shoes and walking with normal shoes, in terms of stride cycle time, cadence, stride length, and angles of the ankle, knee, and hip joints. Differences also were found with the maximum and minimum ground reaction forces and their occurrence times. Metabolically, heart rate and oxygen consumption showed a significant difference. In conclusion, walking with negative heel shoes induced significant changes in gait patterns, ground reaction forces, and energy consumption.