Stilett-no! Fashionistas warned high heels above three-inches could be their downfall
They can be agony-inducing and awkward to walk in.
But high heels are de rigueur for many women wanting to look their best – thanks no doubt to the influence of the world of fashion, where teetering stilettos are the norm.
Now, however, scientists are recommending that, if they must wear them, women should avoid killer heels that are three inches or higher.
That's because they significantly increase the likelihood of falling when walking down stairs, the researchers found.
The findings will come as a blow to millions of stiletto lovers – some can be a whopping eight inches.
Experts from Shandong Sport University in China tested a range of heel sizes on 25 women to see how their body movements were affected.
They found that, instead of the hips and knees bearing most of the force – as happens when walking down steps in flat shoes – much of the weight was instead transferred through the feet and ankles.
This increased the likelihood of taking a tumble and suffering an injury.
Details published in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders showed that the higher the heel, the more unstable the women became.
In their report, the scientists said: 'Surveys have shown about 26 per cent of falls occur during stair walking.
And walking downstairs accounts for three-quarters of these.
'Wearing high-heeled shoes can cause gait abnormalities, as well as knee and foot pain and even foot deformity. It may be advisable that young women choose a heel height of less than three inches.'
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Then, the test was not as accurate for some participants with a specific genotype, which means it might not work for everyone. However, the number of participants with this genotype was very small in this study, and it is possible that the level of interleukin-2 response of some participants with this genotype was just not able to be detected by the test. Overall, more research is required regarding this subtype of individuals and the use of this test. Ian Storch, DO, an osteopathic physician specializing in gastroenterology and internal medicine, and an American Osteopathic Association member, who was not involved in this study, spoke to Medical News Today about its findings. 'One limitation of this study is the poor performance in the DQ8 genetic arm, which makes up 10% of celiac patients. This will decrease the sensitivity and specificity for the control group or require HLA typing before the assay is run.' Researchers acknowledge that the serum analysis of interleukin-2 following a gluten challenge does not always line up with the results of the WBAIL-2 assay, which could have to do with the assays' differences. Shilpa Mehra Dang, MD, double board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to LabFinder, who was similarly not involved in this research, noted that 'we need to look at bigger samples to really see its clinical usefulness.' In addition to larger studies, research can also focus on more details regarding gluten-specific T cells. Celiac disease is a challenging condition to manage, and accurate diagnosis is important. Researchers suggest that examining WBAIL-2 and serum interleukin-2 after gluten consumption could allow people with celiac disease to not have to get biopsies done to confirm celiac diagnosis. The authors of this study also suggest that the WBAIL-2 assay could also become a first test among people following a gluten-free diet and help with symptom severity prediction. Storch said: 'I do not think that based on the data presented, removal of histology to confirm the diagnosis can be suggested.' Jeffrey D. Davis, DO, CMD, an osteopathic physician specializing in Family Medicine and Preventive Health and an American Osteopathic Association board member, who was not involved in the study, noted the following to MNT : 'I see potential for a commercially available rapid, simple, cost-effective laboratory test for physicians to use to assist in the accurate diagnosis of celiac disease. This study shows that especially in adults already on a gluten-free diet using this lab test versus currently available tests would improve our diagnostic capabilities for Celiac Disease. However, it would most likely be just another tool in our tool box to aid in the diagnosis along with other current diagnostic methods.'
