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Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons

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Anatomy

Western Washington University

Series

2020

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Full-Text Articles in Rehabilitation and Therapy

Risk Of Knee Osteoarthritis Associated With High Heel Use, Emily Carlson Oct 2020

Risk Of Knee Osteoarthritis Associated With High Heel Use, Emily Carlson

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The objective of this study is to summarize literature regarding the relationship between high heel use and development of knee osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis is a progressively degenerative disease commonly observed in women with well documented biological and environmental risk factors. Deviations in walking mechanics caused by walking in high heels result in compressive forces on the medial aspect of the knee joint consistent with degenerative changes in the cartilage indicative of knee osteoarthritis. Frequent high heel wearing may also degrade the knee joint capsule, resulting in pain. Due to genetic predisposition, women are already at high risk for knee osteoarthritis …