Scientists have discovered a link between wide-heeled women's shoes and osteoarthritis of the knee in the women who wear them.

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from knee osteoarthritis, though both sexes experience the same knee stress (measured as "knee torque") while walking barefoot. While past studies have demonstrated that wearing stiletto heels increases knee torque, this recent study is the first to examine the effects of wide-heeled shoes. Ironically, the scientists discovered that wide-heeled shoes had an even greater effect on knee torque than stilettos.