Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVE: Our aims were to examine the effects of heeled shoes on incident knee osteoarthritis (OA) and joint pain. METHODS: We used longitudinal data from the Chingford 1000 Women Study (Chingford Study), a prospective cohort of women aged 50 years or older. Participants with musculoskeletal disorders and/or a history of knee-related injury/surgery were excluded. Participants were followed for up to 5 years for incident outcomes including 1) radiographic knee OA (RKOA) and 2) joint pain (feet, knees, hips, and back). Footwear data, including ever worn heels of 2 inches or more and daytime/evening hours (per week) spent wearing heeled shoes over five decades (ages <20 years, 20-30 years, 30-40 years, and >50 years), were available at Year 10 whereas knee radiographs and joint symptom data were also collected at Year 15. Cumulative time spent wearing heeled shoes was calculated for women reporting ever-use of heeled shoes (≥2 inches). Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between exposures and outcomes (from Year 10 to Year 15). RESULTS: A total of 356 women were eligible at Year 10 with a median (interquartile range) age of 60 (56-65) years. Compared with non-use, ever-use of heeled shoes (≥2 inches) was not associated with incident RKOA (1.35; 95% confidence interval: 0.56-3.27). No associations were observed between increasing cumulative time spent wearing heels and incident outcomes. CONCLUSION: Compared with the non-use of heeled shoes, ever-use of heels (≥2 inches) was not associated with incident RKOA and incident joint symptoms. Further, increasing cumulative time spent wearing heels was not associated with any of our outcomes.

Original publication

DOI

10.1002/acr2.11298

Type

Journal article

Journal

ACR Open Rheumatol

Publication Date

09/2021

Volume

3

Pages

614 - 621