The November 2010 issue of Lower Extremity Review features the results of a Virginia Tech University study, which measured the effects of Achilles tendon loading and dorsiflexion range of motion with two different shoe styles. High-top athletic shoes were identified as having almost 10% less peak Achilles tendon tension than their low-top counterpart. The study also measured the effect of tied versus untied laces on Achilles tendon loading.
To read the full-text article in Lower Extremity Review, click High-top styles, tied laces decrease Achilles tendon loading in cadavers
If you’re interested in this subject, leave a comment and let us know what you think about the idea of prescribing high-top athletic shoes to patients with Achilles tendon and dorsiflexion range of motion limitations. Will high-top shoes become the next best-seller in comfort footwear?
David
Hmmm….is it true? can high heels decrease achilles loading? Need more information about this issue. Thanks
Tamarack Sales & Marketing
Hi David,
Thank you for your reply. Just to clarify – the Virginia Tech study mentioned in the Blog post was discussing high-top (athletic), not high-heel shoes. If you’d like more information about the study, the findings were pulbished in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine (September 2010).