Health View to Decrease Negative Effect of High Heels Wearing: A Systemic Review

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Podiatry
• Ergonomics

Background:

• High heel (HH) wear is prevalent among women, despite known negative impacts on foot morphology.
• Understanding how to mitigate adverse effects is crucial for daily wear.
• Previous research has explored factors like heel height, insoles, and heel base support (HBS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review studies on mitigating the negative effects of high heel (HH) wear.
• To examine the influence of heel height, insoles, and heel base support (HBS) on women's comfort and safety.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for safer high heel (HH) usage.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature.
• Analysis of studies examining heel height, total contact inserts (TCI), and heel base support (HBS).
• Evaluation of biomechanical and subjective comfort data related to high heel (HH) walking.

Main Results:

• An optimal heel height range of 3.76 cm to 4.47 cm was identified.
• Larger heel base supports (HBS) improve gait stability, reduce ankle injury risk, and enhance comfort compared to smaller ones.
• Total contact inserts (TCI) significantly decrease plantar pressure and improve perceived comfort.

Conclusions:

• Specific high heel (HH) parameters, including heel height and heel base support (HBS) size, can reduce adverse effects.
• Total contact inserts (TCI) offer a viable method for increasing comfort and reducing foot impact.
• Current findings are based on short-term studies; long-term effects require further investigation, ideally integrating numerical and experimental methods for personalized recommendations.