Heels were originally worn by men to steady them on a horse and keep their feet in the stirrups. Since those ancient times though, high heels have evolved to a be woman’s fashionable article. Ladies who wear heels, particularly high ones, tend to have more sex appeal.
The elevated arches are designed to make the calves and ankles more defined, as well as cause the breasts to be pushed more forward - the buttocks more rearward.
But is it worth it to look sexy when so many health issues stem from high heels.
A lot of women think so despite the fact that according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA,) 73% of heel wearing dames admit they already have a shoe-related foot issue.
But sometimes the bigger issue is not the bunions or corns that result from women cramming their tootsies into heels that have a larger angle than the drop on the average roller coaster; it, is that the ladies become unstable, teeter and totter, and fall down twisting ankles, breaking bones, etc.
Two pragmatic physicists, Dr. Paul Stevenson, a nuclear physicist from the University of Surrey, and Laura Grant a physicist working at the University of Liverpool, part of the NOISE (new outlooks in science and engineering) campaign to promote science, working at the University of Liverpool, took a look at this real life problem.
After much thought, the pair came up with an idea and devised a new formula – one not likely to make it into the typical high school physics text.
The physics formula is one in which a woman (or a man if he chooses) can compute the ideal maximum height of a heel they can wear without toppling over.
The formula is very straightforward…
h = Q•(12+3s /8)
h is the maximum height of the heel (in cm)
Q is a sociological factor and has a value between 0 and 1 (see below to work this out)
S is the shoe size (UK ladies sizes). This factor makes sure that the base of support is just good enough for an experienced and sober, high-heel wearer not to fall over.
… but the ‘Q’ factor is rather complex.
The variable 'Q' is defined as follows:
p•(y+9)•L
Q = ----------------------------------
(t+1)•(A+1)•(y+10)•(L+£20)
The variables are:
p – the probability that wearing the shoes will help you 'pull' (in a range from 0 to 1, where 1 is sure to attract the attention of a man and 0 is not a chance). In another words, if the shoes are a turn-off, there's no point wearing them.
y – the number of years experience you have in wearing high heels. As you become more adept, you can wear a higher heel. Beginners should take it easy.
L – the cost of the shoes, in pounds. Clearly, if the shoe is particularly expensive, you can put up with a higher heel.
t – the time since the shoe was the height of fashion, in months (0 = it's the 'in thing' right now!). One has to suffer for one's art, and if the shoes are terribly fashionable, you should be prepared to put up with a little pain.
A – units of alcohol consumed. If you're planning on drinking, be careful to give yourself a little leeway for reduced coordination.
Note: If you remember anything about math, you should know that 0 times anything is 0 and 0 divided by anything is 0. So if P is 0 that leaves you with 3 choices, flats, slippers or barefoot.
And according to researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, who conducted a study that examined 180 modern humans from three different population groups (Sotho, Zulu, and European), comparing their feet to one another’s, as well as to the feet of 2,000-year-old skeletons, your choice should be sans shoes.
The primary reason one could assume women wear high heels is the ‘p’ variable or the amount of “pull” the shoes have.
A survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association showed some 42% of women admitted they'd wear a shoe they liked even if it gave them discomfort;
Women who wear panties to bed suffer from more yeast infections, and those that wear heels suffer more foot problems and injuries than those that don’t.
Do you choose sexy over health or vice-a-versa?
Your comments are welcome!
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