The Effect of Walking in High Heels on the Activation and Deactivation of Upper Trunk Muscles.

The aim of the study was to investigate how high-heeled walking affects the coordination changes of timing of upper trunk muscle activation, and the possible occurrence of health problems in this part of the body of young women. We used surface electromyography (EMG) for data collection. The research group consisted of 30 women. Statistical significance of the changes in muscle coordination was confirmed when evaluating two of the four upper trunk muscles studied. M. trapezius and m. pectoralis major are not subject to changes in gait in high heels (HH) from the point of view of timing on a statistical level, but HH increase the intensity of muscle contraction of all monitored muscles, and therefore we recommend limiting the wearing of HH in case of health problems related to these muscles.

Temporal and dynamic changes in plantar pressure distribution, as well as in posture during slow walking in flat and high-heel shoes.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the differences in plantar pressure distribution and in posture during slow and very slow walking on the treadmill in flat and high-heeled shoes. METHODS: The Pedar-X® (Novel, Munich, Germany) measuring insoles were used to measure the plantar pressure distribution and to assess temporal parameters during walking on the treadmill with the speed v1 = 0.97 ms-1 and v2 = 0.56 ms-1 in flat shoes (FS) and HH. For postural measurement, the SonoSens Monitor Analyzer (Gefremed, Chemnitz, Germany) was used. Thirty healthy females who only occasionally wear HH volunteered to participate in the study (age: 21.8 ± 2.09 years, weight: 55.7 ± 4.05 kg, height: 1.66 ± 0.03 m). For statistical analysis the ANOVA, and paired t-test were used. RESULTS: Significant differences in walking in HH were detected in temporal and plantar pressure variables, compared to FS. The walking speed influenced the temporal variables, but not the measured dynamic parameters, in either shoes. In the sagittal plane, significant differences in all sections of the spine were identified for v1 and v2. While walking in HH, lordosis at lumbar spine decreased significantly as well as at cervical spine, and kyphosis increased in the thoracic spine. In HH statistically significant differences between the walking speeds were observed particularly in the thoracic spine. CONCLUSIONS: Walking in high heels caused a plantar pressure changes and curvature of the spine, and the slowing of walking speed did not prevent these changes.

Effect of Rehabilitation on Fatigue Level in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a rehabilitation program in changing the perception of fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study involved 65 respondents/patients with clinically confirmed multiple sclerosis (54 women, 11 men, average age 46.49 years). The evaluation of the effects of fatigue on the physical, psychological, and psychosocial aspects of life was assessed using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). To test the effectiveness of the neurorehabilitation program, we enrolled 2 groups: the experimental group (EG, n=32, 29 women, 3 men, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 4.8 average, SD±1.77, min. 1.5 max 8.0) participated in the intervention and rehabilitation program over a period of 12 weeks and the control group (CG, n=33, 25 women, 8 men. EDSS average 5.12±1.74 SD, min. 2.0 max. 8.0). Each group of patients was divided into 3 sub-groups according to the severity of EDSS: a) 1-3.5, b) 4-6, and c) 6.5-8. For the statistical evaluation of the significance of the observed changes, the MANOVA/ANOVA model was used. RESULTS Between the input and output assessment of the MFIS individual areas questionnaire between the EG and the CG, there existed a statistically significant in the physical area (p<0.000), psychological area (p<0.000), and psychosocial area (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS Our results support the importance of an active approach in patients with multiple sclerosis using individualized rehabilitation intervention programs.