The Journal of Experimental Biology just published a study that told women who have worn high heels for long periods of time to not switch to flats. In the study, the high heel wearers complained of discomfort wearing flats after steadily wearing heals for two or more years. Scientists determined that high heel wearers had muscle fibers 13% shorter than women who wore flats. Scientists also said that not only are muscle fibers shortened, tendons become thickened and stiff.
The study recommended wearing heels and flats on alternating days, and if you must wear heels, try stretching exercises at the end of the day. This hits close to home because I always wear heels. Even my flip flop sandals are elevated 
Do you consistently wear high heels? Do you notice any pain when you wear flats?
guest
No….. I don’t know any woman that CAN wear heels all day walking around and be okay.
dahlia / 2012 posts
This is not surprising to me in the least. The same thing happens to people who run a lot, have a mid-to-forefoot strike, and have shoes with thick heels. It doesn’t allow you to fully extend your calf when you run (even if only for a fraction of a second), and so a lot of people end up hurting themselves that way. Don’t even get me started with runners who land on their heels….
I think the recommendation of not switching to flats because of a little discomfort is ridiculous, though. That’s the opposite of doing it “for your health!” You can work on flexibility even after years of abuse and reduce the risk of serious complications. Hire a physical therapist if absolutely necessary. Better that you have fully functional legs than fuck them up because you want to look pretty in your prosthetics (the high heels themselves).
guest
I wear high heels once in a while so the only discomfort I feel is when I wear some of my high heels for a long period of time, but I love them none the less.
But I’m mostly in flat shoes all day…
magnolia / 1369 posts
I wear heels occasionally. I love flats. ♥
guest
I dont like heels or flats.
I think heels are SO sexy, but they are the most uncomfortable thing in the world!
I think flats are just plain ugly.
guest
I don’t wear high heels because I can’t walk in them, ha. I prefer flats.
guest
depends on my mood. i like heels, but i wear them less and less because i don’t have as many reasons to wear them. i can’t wear heels at work and i’m already tall enough with flats.
guest
@haloed@xanga - I actually love wearing heels. If I could, I’d wear them everyday all day. It might be because I’m a dancer, and my feet are fucked up from that so I barely feel it, but I think heels are fine.
guest
I wear heels all the time! I did marching band in them (really). I can’t say that I really noticed any discomfort when wearing flats, though. I try to wear flats more now, though, since my bone structure in my feet is getting messed up!
hydrangea / 76 posts
i switch from heels to flats daily. My to go informal would be flats. Office would be 2 inch heels. Special occasions call for the other heels (2 inch +). And I stretch out my tendons and muscles when i go jogging every other day.
So in short: 0800 to 1600 hours weekdays is heels. The rest of each day and the weekends would be flats ^_^. unless i have to go out to a wedding or a party. So i don’t have that discomforting feeling. I think that happens when you wear heels and nothing else, for a looong period of time.Coming home from work, and slipping into my flats after a warm bath..feels like heaven.♫♥
guest
If you wear high heels your health is already screwed.
tulip / 13 posts
I do a lot of yoga so my downward dog elongates my calf muscle and I have no problems with switching from 4″ heels to flats.