UK researchers say they have uncovered why women who often wear high heels can find it painful to wear flat shoes.
In the final part of the study, they found that the high-heel wearers’ tendons were much thicker and stiffer than in those who stuck to flat shoes.
This causes discomfort when walking on flat feet because the tendon cannot stretch sufficiently, Professor Narici said.
Yet he does not think women need to give up their high heels.
The advice we would give is not to wear heels or flat shoes all the time but to wear a variety of heel heights”
“Fashion is intended to be uncomfortable and none of the women in the study planned to give up their high heels,” he said.
“We want to give practical advice and I would recommend just doing a few stretching exercises to counteract some of these changes.”
Sammy Margo, physiotherapist and spokesperson for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said the study backed what they suspected.
“The advice we would give is not to wear heels or flat shoes all the time but to wear a variety of heel heights to get the calf muscles working through the greatest range of movement. . . .”
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