Long-term high-heel use,
does it really help with Increased midfoot pain?
research showsThe grade is C with 52 points. A one-time retrospective comparison assessed 95 women with prior workplace high-heel exposure and 102 workplace nonusers. Midfoot pain was 42% versus 28%, corresponding to a risk difference of about 14 percentage points, a relative risk of about 1.50, and an odds ratio of about 1.86. Radiographic findings and overall foot scores did not differ, and this cross-sectional assessment cannot establish causation.
ads claimThe central event in this verdict is midfoot pain. Radiographic hallux-valgus and joint findings and overall foot scores did not differ significantly.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- Exposure required workplace heels at least 5 cm high for at least five years.
- Controls reported never wearing high heels at work.
- Hours per week were not reported; leisure-wear days in the prior week were collected.
- Median workplace exposure in the exposed group was 20 years.
What the research actually shows
Borchgrevink and colleagues conducted a one-time retrospective exposure-group comparison and cross-sectional assessment of 197 women aged 40 to 66. The 95 exposed women had regularly worn heels at least 5 cm high at work for at least five years; the 102 controls reported never wearing high heels at work. Median workplace exposure was 20 years, IQR 10 to 30. The study asked years of use and leisure-wear days in the preceding week but did not report hours per week. Blinded examiners assessed weight-bearing radiographs and foot scores. Trondelag Orthopaedic Workshop partly supported the study, and the paper states that there were no other sponsors.
Why this is classified as C (52)
A roughly 14-percentage-point midfoot-pain difference and substantial limitations of a single retrospective cross-sectional comparison give C with 52 points.
Counterpoint. The pain result was not null, and differences in selected pain locations and callosities may matter for preventive footwear choices.
Rejudgment record. Cross-check applied — The retrospective exposure-group and cross-sectional structure, 95 versus 102 participants, midfoot pain of 42% versus 28%, risk difference, relative risk, odds ratio, null radiographs, and the no-other-sponsors statement were applied
| Endpoint | P | Patient-reported treatment goal - the symptom is the goal |
| Replication | R1 | Single confirmatory trial |
| Independence | I1 | Mixed funding sources |
| Effect size | E+ | Meets the clinically important threshold |
The scoring table and the verdict agree (C).
Sub-claim grades by effect
This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.
| Effect (sub-claim) | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Increased radiographic hallux-valgus angle or joint disease | D | Hallux-valgus angle and radiographic joint disease did not differ significantly. |
| Increased foot pain | C | A small association appeared at selected sites, including midfoot pain of 42% versus 28%. |
| Worse overall foot function score | D | Total AOFAS and SEFAS scores did not differ significantly between groups. |
Cross-check — Codex and Claude
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study 1 | One-time retrospective comparison formed from prior workplace exposure | 102 | Partly funded by Trondelag Orthopaedic Workshop; the paper states there were no other sponsors | Weight-bearing radiographic deformity, AOFAS and SEFAS scores, and site-specific pain | Midfoot pain was 40/95 (42%) versus 29/102 (28%), P=.04; risk difference about 14 percentage points, relative risk about 1.50, odds ratio about 1.86. Radiographic and total-score differences were null. | Decisive single observational study |
Receipt — 1 References
All 1 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-08-05).
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-08-05 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Long-term high-heel use x midfoot pain — Evidence Grade C·52. 1 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/joint-bone/long-term-high-heels-foot-deformity-pain/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
What this document does and does not do
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