Wearing Type of Shoes Affects Lower-Limb Muscle Fatigue and Ankle Stability in Young Female Workers

Abstract

Kim C-U, Baek KW, Yoo J-II, Kim J-S. Wearing Type of Shoes Affects Lower-Limb Muscle Fatigue and Ankle Stability in Young Female Workers. JEPonline 2020;23(2):41-49. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different types of shoes worn throughout the day on lower limb muscular fatigue and ankle stability in young female adults with an average age 25.08 yrs. The subjects were separated into three groups: (a) slippers, (n = 9); (b) sneakers, (n = 8); and (c) high heels, (n = 7). Lower limb electromyogram, gait balance, and fatigue awareness were measured while they were walking in barefoot on a treadmill after finishing 8 hrs of work. Muscle activity of the tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, lateral gastrocnemius, and peroneus longus was the highest in the high heels group, even after workhours. The ankle stability determined by measuring overall balance, medial-lateral balance, and anterior-posterior balance were the lowest in high heels group. The subjects’ fatigue awareness included physical fatigue, neurosensory fatigue, and mental fatigue was the highest in high heels group. These findings indicate that the wearing type of shoes affects lower limb muscle fatigue and ankle stability even after the daylong work hours were over. Also, sneakers are be the most recommended type of shoe to wear while the high heels shoe should be avoided for the female workers. ? 2020. All Rights Reserved.