EFFECTS OF HEEL HEIGHT ON STIFFNESS IN THE GASTROCNEMIUS OF YOUNGER WOMEN

Abstract

Gastrocnemius Stress and Stiffness Research. Anecdotally, studies that have been completed by the research team have suggested that women generally have stiffer calves than men. A likely mechanism for this is that high heeled shoes keep the gastrocnemius muscle in a shortened position for great lengths of time leading to increased stiffness. As a result, researchers will be examining the effects of heeled shoes and how they play a role in calf stiffness, and potentially leading to increasing pain.