A study by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists found that a quarter of women in Britain wear high heels every day and are actually increasing their risk of getting the debilitating condition. High heels affect body posture, placing more pressure on foot, ankle and knee joints. This can cause stress to the cartilage and lead to the onset of osteoarthritis, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Poor footwear, together with increased levels of obesity and people living longer, could cause an “arthritis crisis” , the society warned. Yet the survey of 2,000 people found that 22% thought arthritis was an inevitable part of getting older and 36% of people did not know much about the condition.
Professor Anthony Redmond, a podiatrist and arthritis researcher said: “Although you are more likely to develop arthritis as you get older, it can occur at any. Choosing the right footwear will help minimise the stress placed on the feet and joints during everyday activity and helps reduce the risk of injury and joint damage. For daily wear, the recommendation is to opt for a round-toed shoe with a heel height of no more than 2-3 cm and with a shock-absorbent sole to help minimize shock to the joints.”