Walk – don’t run – in heels, researchers say

Zhejiang, China – Running while wearing high heels may cause osteoarthritis and other knee problems, according to a new study from Ningbo University.

Using a small sample of women 21-25 years old, researchers measured their hip and ankle movement in flat shoes, low heels and high heels. The knee and hip motion in high heels indicated that more force was being put on the knee joint, which could increase the risk of osteoarthritis.

Another issue was ankle sprains. Running while wearing high heels was associated with less ankle movement and inversion, which researchers said could increase the risk of spraining an ankle. The risk of an ankle sprain likely increases with heel height, researchers said.

The study was published online in October in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology.