THE EFFECTS OF WEARING ROLLER SHOES ON MUSCLE ACTIVITY IN THE LOWER EXTREMITY DURING WALKING

Abstract

Roller shoes have become increasingly popular among children and its features of retractable wheels which allow the user to walk or roll without changing the footwear. Maintaining balance during forward walking with roller shoes is not an easy task. To prevent falling backward, the user needs to lock the knees and tighten the ankles and thighs while the upper body is slightly leaning forward. Constant walking with roller shoes forces the user to walk in a manner much different from normal gait. Prolonged exposure to un-natural stresses on human body forces our body to evolve by strengthening those incorrect and temporary functions (Clement et al., 1981). For children, the chronic stress may lead to serious injuries in the lower extremity later in life. If any potential of injury exists in a movement it is critical to examine the associated muscle activity that may lead to injury. To the best of our knowledge, the effects of wearing roller shoes on muscle activity in the lower extremity have rarely been studied, especially in the youth population. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare muscle activity in the lower extremity during walking wearing jogging and roller shoes.