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Women who think their legs look good in high heels may not feel so great after wearing them for too long. Hi, I'm Dr. Cindy Haines, host of HealthDay TV. Researchers went looking for participants with an interesting habit for a study that was recently published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. They included 11 women who wore high heels for an average of about 61 hours a week and compared them to nine women who usually wore flats. They performed different tests on the women's legs, including MRI and ultrasound imaging. In the high-heeled women, the bundles of muscle fibers in a specific calf muscle were shorter. Their Achilles tendons were also stiffer. According to the researchers, these differences could reduce the range of motion in the women's ankles. The findings also might explain why women who regularly wear high heels may find walking in flat shoes to be uncomfortable. The American Podiatric Medical Association recommends that women limit the amount of time they wear high heels, and switch the heels with flats or sneakers for part of the day. I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.
