The Effect of Walking With High-Heeled Shoes on the Leg Venous Pressure

Abstract

It is common belief that the use of high-heeled shoes is deleterious to venous return, by impairing the efficiency of the muscular calf pump. Ambulatory venous pressure obtained with dorsal foot venipuncture is the gold standard in the evaluation of venous pressure during walking, but it is not routinely used in clinical practice. The objective of the present study was to determine the variations in leg venous pressure obtained with a new noninvasive method, in individuals without venous disease, walking without shoes and wearing high-heeled shoes. A new method of evaluation of the venous pressure by means of air plethysmography was applied to 10 volunteers (20 limbs). The patients were evaluated while standing, with orthostatic flexion and extension foot movements, and while walking on a treadmill barefooted and wearing high-heeled shoes. It was found that the variation on the cuff pressure during walking with high-heeled shoes was higher than the variation on the cuff pressure walking barefooted (52.2 +/- 8.89 X 26.65 +/- 6.7 mm Hg, p < 0.0001), and the final hydrostatic venous pressure was lower (51.5 +/- 12.78 X 61.5 +/- 8.44 mm Hg). The use of high-heeled shoes increases muscular effort during walking and diminishes the leg venous pressure compared with barefooted.

Management of venous leg ulcers: Clinical practice guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery® and the American Venous Forum

“…In consideration of shoe types, one study suggested that high heels may decrease hydrostatic pressure at the ankles. 545 A separate study using air plethysmography showed that high heels were associated with decreased ejection fraction and increased residual volume fraction. 546 However, specific footwear and risk of VLU has not been tested, but caution should be exercised in those with C3 or higher clinical class venous disease.…”

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“…The most recommended by doctors is to do during the week, rotate between jumps, not letting your feet get used to a specific type of jump. Another good practice is to regularly stretch the muscles of the thigh and calf [13].…”

Prevalence of Chronic Venous Diseases in Students of Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University

“…J. Potério-Filho et al conducted an experiment, in which 10 healthy women participated. Each woman walked on a treadmill barefooted and wearing 7 cm highheeled shoes [20]. The hydrostatic venous pressure was measured on both shins at the beginning and at the end of the experiment.…”