The Effect of Heel Lifts on Ground Reaction Force Patterns and Lower Extremity Joint Angles in Subjects With Structural Leg Length Discrepancies

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of heel lifts on ground reaction force patterns and lower extremity joint angles during the stance phase of walking in subjets with structural leg length discrepancies. Eighteen subjects aged 20 to 63 years with LLDs ranging from 3/16 inch to 7/8 inch participated in this study. A force platform and high speed cinematography were utilized to collect ground reaction force and film data respectively. Prior to lift fitting, ground reaction force data were collected from 3 successive walking trials with each lower extremity. Film data were collected during the first two of the 3 walking trials. A heel lift equal to the amount of the LLD (up to a maximum thickness of 1/2 inch) was then fitted in the shoe of the short leg of each subject. After a 3 week break-in period, the same data collection procedure was repeated. Both ground reaction force data and digitized joint angle data were analyzed by the use of a 2 factor within subjects ANOVA with repeated measures. Tukey's post hoc analysis was utilized to compare differences in individual treatment means. All data were compared for the following 4 conditions: (1) short leg no lift (SLNL); (2) long leg no lift (LLNL); (3) short leg lift (SLL); and (4) long leg lift (LLL).

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Schuit, Dale

• Biology, Animal Physiology
• Education, Physical

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8815421

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/71080