"Killer heels" arthritis warning

Badly-fitting trainers don't help either

Women (and men!) who wear fashionable high heels or badly fitting trainers are running the risk of developing arthritis, warns the UK's Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. Combined with growing obesity and the fact that we are living longer means that we could be facing an "arthritis crisis" in the near future, according to the Society.

Arthritis is more common in women, and the chances of suffering from it increase with age. The most common form, osteoarthritis, has over 8 million sufferers in the UK and causes pain and stiffness in the joints. It can be caused by injury or general wear and tear. It particularly affects the feet, a worrying fact given that a poll by the Society found that a quarter of the women responding said that they wear heels every day or frequently. But high heels can alter the body's natural posture and put high stress on the foot, ankle and knee joints.

The poll also found that both men and women do not tend to wear sports shoes that are appropriate to the activity they are involved in. This can raise the chances of injury as well as increasing the pressure on joints and bones. Commenting on the survey results, Professor Anthony Redmond said that "although you are more likely to develop arthritis as you get older, it can occur at any age and the good news is that there are simple things you can do to help prevent and treat arthritis. 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."

He recommended that the heel height should be no more than 1 inch, and that round-toed shoes are best. A shock-absorbent sole is preferred as it can minimize stress to the joints. He also urged sporty types to make sure that the trainers chosen are well-fitted and designed specifically for the type of activity involved.

The Family GP