Effects of Unstable Shoes on Lower Limbs with Different Speeds

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of walking at different speeds with wearing unstable shoes on the movement of the lower limbs, and to provide relevant biomechanical supports for fitness and injury prevention. Methods: Twelve females volunteered to join the test. The walking speed was respectively 0.80 m/s, 1.20 m/s and 1.70 m/s. The kinematic parameters of the lower limb of ankle, knee and hip measured with Vicon motion analysis system. And univariate repeated measurements of variance analysis was used to measure the effect of unstable shoes in lower limbs joints in three differences speeds. Results: The movement pattern of the hip joint is relatively stable and is less affected by the speed. It is mainly manifested in the extension, abduction and external rotation of the hip joint. The knee joint is affected by the walking speed, especially in the coronal plane and the horizontal plane. The angle range of motion of the ankle joint are larger than hip joint, there have increased of the dorsiflexion, inversion and internal rotation in ankle joint. Conclusion: For the lower extremities of the hip, knee and ankle joints, with the increase of walking speed, joint angle and range of activities also showed varying degrees of increase; and joint angle peaks are in the pre-support period.

Keywords

• Unstable shoes
• Walking speed
• Joint angle
• Kinematics