KINEMATICS AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHY OF TRUNK AND LOWER-LIMB DURING WALKING WITH NEGATIVE HEEL SHOES

Abstract

A type of negative heel shoes (NHS) was designed for the purpose of training the muscles in trunk and leg. The negative heel shoes are characterized as having the heel section lower than the toe when the top of the shoe and the insole are removed. The shoe itself tilts the foot into about 10 degrees of dorsiflexion. It is noteworthy that the original objectives of the NHS designer were to build up and exercise the muscles in trunk and 'Iowerlimn as well as Achilles tendon. However, studies about the kinematics and muscle activities of trunk and lower-limb in walking with NHS are limited (Benz, et aI., 1998). And no scientific evidence supports that walking with the negative heel shoes benefits the muscle strength. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the kinematics and EMG activity in the muscles of trunk and lower-limb, as compared with walking with normal shoes. It is hoped that the results of this study will further the understanding of the effect of walking with NHS on biomechanical responses in humans.