IMPACT OF HIGH HEEL FOOTWEAR USES ON POSTURAL BALANCE IN HEALTHY YOUNG ADULT FEMALES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Mehakjotkaur*, Gurbhejsingh

ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of high heel use on balance among adult females and to evaluate the association between high heel usage characteristics and balance impairment. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 110 adult females aged 18 years and above who had been using high-heeled footwear for more than six months. Participants were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria using convenient sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and a Balance Confidence Scale distributed via Google Forms. Information regarding demographic characteristics, frequency of high heel use, heel height, duration of use, balance confidence, and balance-related problems was obtained. The collected data were analyzed using percentage analysis, descriptive statistics, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Result: The majority of participants were 18–20 years of age (60.9%). Most participants reported wearing high heels occasionally (50.0%), preferred heel heights of less than 3 cm (44.5%), and wore high heels for 3–6 hours per day (33.3%). Many participants experienced occasional unsteadiness and moderate reductions in balance confidence while performing daily activities in high heels. Spearman's correlation analysis demonstrated that the duration of high heel use was significantly associated with balance impairment (ρ = 0.200, p = 0.036), whereas the frequency of use and heel height showed no statistically significant association with balance impairment. Conclusion: The findings suggest that prolonged use of high-heeled footwear may adversely affect balance among adult females. Although heel height and frequency of use were not significantly associated with balance impairment, longer daily duration of wearing high heels was related to greater balance difficulties. The study emphasizes the importance of increasing awareness regarding safe footwear practices to reduce balance impairment and the potential risk of falls.

Keywords: High heels, Balance, Adult females, Proprioception, Balance confidence, Postural stability, Spearman correlation, Survey study.