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The two horizontal orthogonal ground reaction forces, mediolateral (Fx) and antero-posterior (Fy), together with limb segment displacements, were recorded simultaneously during gait from 24 female subjects aged 18–29 years. Recordings were made for each subject barefoot and when wearing each of four different pairs of shoes: soft-soled, rigid-soled, medium- and high-heeled. The results showed a trend for increasing lateral stability with increasing heel height and decreasing ground contact area. This.was reflected in decreasing mean values for defined ground reaction force peaks in the medio-lateral direction at heel strike and at toe off. Limb segments displacements tended to increase with decreasing heel height and increasing shoe-ground contact area, being greatest when subjects were wearing pumps, i.e. flexible-soled, no-heeled shoes.
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Soames et al. (1987) studied this question.
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