High heels: those beautiful creations that we love to hate and hate to love. We wear them for many reasons: they make our legs look thinner and toned, and they give the derriere a little extra oomph. While some are genuinely comfortable, others make us want to chop our feet off at the end of a long day. And now we’ve got some news that will make you rethink putting on those fancy pumps even more, if your blisters haven’t already.
According to a study published by the Journal of Applied Physiology, when you put on high heels, you’re essentially pointing your toes until the moment you take them off. Over time, the fibers in your calf muscle shorten and your Achilles tendon stiffens as you walk (it should actually flex). Combine these two factors, and the result is fatigue and eventually, injury.
When observed, regular high heel wearers pointed their toes as they walked, even if they were barefoot! Long-term use also resulted in compromised muscle efficiency when walking, and constant pain and fatigue to the wearer.
While we’re not suggesting you throw away your beloved Loubies, it might be a good idea to cut back. Try limiting yourself to wearing heels only a couple times every week. Can you do that? We want to know what you think. Would you give up your heel habit for your health? Tell us in the comments below.