For the first time, researchers have dug deeper to look at the possible physiological impacts of wearing high heels and the findings aren't pretty. In fact, the new studies have revealed that just by wearing heels on a regular basis for two years or more they could be affecting the way women walk.

With many health warnings surrounding heels having already been released it is clear that women see the positive attributes of heels as outweighing the negative ones. For example, high heels have been found to create slimmer calves, self-confidence and a smarter, unique style. However, as the health warnings continue are the risk of bunions, flat feet and a different walk starting to outweigh the positives of wearing heels on a regular basis?

When women wear heels their feet are made to take on a 'plantarflexed' position, which causes the toes to point downwards, a position that can cause damage to leg muscles, consequently risking a change to the way they walk. A woman may not notice the change in her walk but by wearing heels on a regular basis their walk could be unconsciously changing, and for the worse.

The research was conducted at The Griffith University in Queensland, with the observations been carried out on a group of control women (those who didn't wear high heels on a regular basis) who were compared to a group of women who are high heel fans. All of the women were aged between late teens and early 30's.

All of the women were asked to walk down a 26-foot long runway without their shoes on, which had underfloor sensors that monitored just where the forces of a woman's feet were being placed as well as how joints and muscles performed.

Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham who are always pictured wearing heels could have shorter calf muscles than they should have according to the research published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

The women who were in the high heeled group had worn 2 inch heels or more for over 40 hours a week for at least 2 years prior to the tests and were found to walk in a different way to those who favoured flat shoes.

• Flat Shoe Wearers – weren't overusing their calves, which was indicated by them taking bigger strides, showing that they were using their tendons to walk instead.

• High Heel Wearers – were found to be overusing their calf muscles, taking shorter strides, with their walking looking more aggressive as a result.

The researchers who spoke to The New York Times suggested that they were not completely surprised with the results as they concluded that if women were wearing heels regularly for a least two years their muscles would becoming increasingly at risk of suffering from fatigue and strain.

Dr Cronin led the research and added a comment that when these shortened muscles occur particular care must be taken when they choose to exercise as strain can be placed on those shortened tendons, being a potential hazard for injury. To try and prevent the extent of these shortened calf muscles that were found during the study, Cronin recommended that women have a break from wearing heels, recommending that they are only worn once or twice a week.