Postural assessment of lumbar lordosis and pelvic alignment angles in adolescent users and nonusers of high-heeled shoes

Abstract

Objective: The aims of this study were (1) to analyze the influence of wearing high-heeled shoes on lumbar lordosis and pelvic inclinations among adolescents aged between 13 and 20 years were users and nonusers of high-heeled shoes and (2) to correlate these postural angles with age.

Methods: Fifty adolescents from the nonuser group (NUG) of high-heeled shoes and 50 from the user group (UG) were evaluated. Postural assessments were obtained by photogrammetry under 2 conditions-barefoot and with high-heeled shoes-and analyzed using the evaluation postural software. The measured angles included lumbar lordosis and the horizontal alignment of the pelvis. Descriptive analyses were carried out, with a significance level of 5%.

Results: With high-heeled use, the NUG demonstrated rectification of the lumbar spine and pelvic retroversion, whereas the UG demonstrated hyperlordosis and pelvic anteversion. When barefoot, smaller lumbar lordosis angles for both groups were observed. However, the pelvic angles were lower for the UG group and higher for the NUG. The studied angles showed high reliabilities. Age was correlated with lumbar lordosis angles for the NUG in the barefoot condition and with pelvic alignments in both conditions for the UG.

Conclusion: For the subjects in this study, the use of high-heeled shoes is correlated with increased lumbar lordosis and pelvic anteversions. Lumbar lordosis angles are correlated with age for the NUG when barefoot.