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Wearing High heels 'may improve pelvic floor muscles’ - 04/02/08

Wearing higher heels may improve the pelvic floor muscles and in doing so improve women's pelvic health, a recent study suggests.

Italian urologist and self-confessed shoe addict, Dr Maria Cerruto conducted the study to prove that wearing heels may have some health benefits.

It is recommended that to improve your pelivc floor, you should consider using products such as Aqualfex Cones and the Pelvic floor educator and understand the condition from one of our many books.  

She said her study of 66 women under 50 found that those who held their foot at a 15 degree angle to the floor - the same as a two inch heel - had as good posture as those who wore flat shoes, and most importantly, showed up to 15 per cent less electrical activity in their pelvic muscles.

This suggested the muscles were in their best position, which could well improve their strength and ability to contract.

The pelvic floor muscles provide vital support to the pelvic organs, which include the bladder, bowels and uterus, as well as helping during sexual intercourse.

With ageing and pregnancy, these muscles can weaken leading to incontinence. Pelvic floor muscles and products like the Aquaflex cones improve the condition of the pelvic floor, but Dr Cerruto hopes her findings may help in conjunction with these.

"Women often have difficulty in carrying out the right exercises for the pelvic zone and wearing heels could be the solution," she said.

"Like many women, I like high-heeled shoes," she said. "It's good to know they have potential health benefits."

Gill Brook, a women's health physiotherapist in Bradford, was quick to point out that the findings did not suggest that stilettos were the ideal solution for women who wanted to improve the condition of their pelvic floors.

Brook said: “For women who like a slightly higher heel, these are reassuring findings - although we haven't yet done away with the need for regular exercises to maintain what is such an important part of the female body."