Characterization of anthropometric parameters, lumbar flexibility and quadriceps angle of adult female users of high-heeled shoes in Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria.

Background: The suitability and health implications of high heel use are essential for users, designers, and health professionals. This study characterized the anthropometric parameters (height, weight, waist-circumference (WC), hip-circumference (HC), body mass index (BMI), and waist-hip ratio (WHR)), lumbar-flexibility (LF) and Quadriceps-angle (Q-angle) of adult female users of high-heeled shoes in Calabar. Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving 100 adult female users of high-heeled shoes consecutively recruited from banks and the University of Calabar community. Participant’s age was obtained, heel-heights, height, weight, WC, HC, BMI, WHR, LF and Q-angle were measured with standard procedures. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data, and inferential statistics of ANOVA, MANOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient analyzed data at p< 0.05. Results: Participants’ mean age, height, weight, BMI, WC, HC, WHR, Q-angle, and LF were: 26.59±3.34 years, 1.61±0.08 m, 60.24±10.73 Kg, 23.01±3.51 Kg/m², 0.75±0.08m, 0.95±0.12m, 0.79±0.05, 10.30±1.59°, and 0.07±0.03m, respectively. Post-hoc analysis revealed significant difference (p< 0.05) between: users of 2- and 3-inches in BMI; 2-inches and 4-inches & above in Q-angle, 3-inches and 4-inches & above in Q-angles, and 2-inches and 4-inches & above in LF. Participants’ height, weight, BMI, WC, HC and WHR positively correlated significantly (p<0.05) with heel-heights, whereas LF and Q-angle negatively correlated significantly (p<0.05) with heel-heights. Conclusion: Adult female users of 3-inches high heels have higher BMI than users of 2-inches, while users of 4-inches & above have lower LF than users of 2-inches. Heel heights are directly related with anthropometric parameters of adult females, but inversely with LF and Q-angle.