Scientists examined the effect of the footwear on women who don high heels regularly for work.

 

They found that despite initially² strengthening important muscles around the ankle, after three years the shoes led to some muscles becoming dominant³ – increasing the risk of sprains⁴.

 

'As high heels are in fashion and sometimes required for certain professions, many women may be unaware⁵ of the extent to which [the shoes] may be weakening their dynamic balance,' said Dr Yong-Seok Jee, from Hanseo University in South Korea.

 

'Eventually, major accidents such as falls and serious ankle sprains can result without proper maintenance and conditioning.'

 

As well as limiting how often the shoes are worn, Dr Jee recommends ankle-strengthening exercises such as deliberately⁶ walking on the heel of the foot with the ball raised, or tapping toes.

 

Toe tapping involves sitting in a seat with bare feet on the ground and simply lifting the front of the foot, keeping the heel in place.

 

'It is clinically important for wearers of heels to regularly perform [these] exercises,' Dr Jee said.

 

The damage done by high heels is not only muscular – it can also be cosmetic⁷.

 

Celebrities⁸' feet can often end up looking less than glamorous⁹ after years of wearing uncomfortable - but stylish¹⁰ - shoes.

 

The normally elegant Samantha Cameron proved the point during the election campaign in April, when she kicked off her loafers to reveal a patch of worn skin and bony lumps on her big toes.

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