Development of a finite element model of female foot for high-heeled shoe design.
BACKGROUND
Wearing high-heeled shoes may produce deleterious effects on the musculoskeletal system while elevation of the shoe heel with arch insole insert is used as a treatment strategy for plantar fasciitis. Due to limitations of the experimental approaches, direct measurements of internal stress/strain of the foot are impossible or invasive. This study aims at developing a finite element model for evaluating the biomechanical effects of high-heeled support on the ankle-foot complex.


METHODS
A 3D anatomically detailed FE model of the female foot and ankle together with a high-heeled support was developed and used to investigate the plantar contact pressure and internal loading responses of the bony and soft tissue structures of the foot with varying heel heights during simulated balanced standing.


RESULTS
In the balanced standing position with high-heeled support, a pronounced increase in von Mises stress at the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint was predicted. The strain on plantar fascia decreased compared to the flat horizontal support and valgus deformity of the hallux was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased stress in forefoot especially at the first MTP segment during prolonged high-heeled standing may contribute to progressive hallux valgus (HV) deformity. However, the reduced tensile strain in the plantar fascia with heel elevation may help relieve plantar fasciitis related pain and inflammation.
Yu
Jia
J
Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PR China.
Cheung
Jason Tak-Man
JT
Fan
Yubo
Y
Zhang
Yan
Y
Leung
Aaron Kam-Lun
AK
Zhang
Ming
M
D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011312:Pressure; D012775:Shoes; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*