The Trouble With High Heels

There's more bad news for women who love high heels this week. A brand new study from the University of Iowa has found that those who wear heels could be more prone to osteoarthritis. The study found that walking in high heels compresses the joints of the lower legs and that heels cause 'shockwaves' throughout the lower legs. These effects can accumulate over time and result in degeneration of the joints.

And the news gets even worse for those of you who love your skyscraper heels as the study found that the problems become worse the higher the heel. Their findings suggest the prolonged wearing of high-heeled shoes could contribute to osteoarthritis of the knee. It would seem that two inches and higher are the worst kind of heels that you can wear.

However there is some good news and that is that the study did not advise that women give up wearing their high heels completely. It would seem that –like most things- if worn in moderation you could get away without major long-term problems. But the study did advise wearing lower high heels as opposed to those 4-inch stilettos!

So will this study stop women giving up their much-loved high heels? The answer is probably not, as women's love affair with heels is no new thing. Heels make short women feel 'leggier' and other women report that wearing heels makes them feel more feminine and some women even claim that wearing heel makes them feel slimmer.

For those who are not yet ready to throw out their high heels, keeping them in the best condition possible is a good way to avoid shoes becoming misshapen and so causing further problems for your feet. Keeping your heels stored in protective Shoe Storage such as shoe storage boxes or shoe cabinets will keep them neat and tidy and in the best condition possible.