Running for a bus in high heels could cause  misery for millions of women in later life.

A new study has found that even short bursts  of activity in stiletto shoes can lead to knee problems in the  future.

Experts now say that even these  relatively  small amounts of activity in high heels could lead to  long-term problems such  as arthritis of the knee joints.

Not so fast: Even short bursts of activity in stiletto  shoes can lead to knee problems in the future, a study has found

Nine out of 10 women who regularly wear high  heels report soreness, fatigue, numbness and bunions.

Despite this, wearing high-heels continues to  be a fashion statement, said the researchers from Ningbo  University, in Zhejiang, China.

They measured hip and ankle movements in  young women wearing different types of footwear – flat shoes with a half-inch  (1.5cm) heel, shoes with low heels of 1.75 inches (4.5cm) and high heels of 2.75  inches (7cm).

The team discovered that women running in  high heels suffered a range of knee and hip strains which could lead to  long-term damage.

Moreover, they observed a potentially  damaging decrease in ankle movement while running that correlated with heel  height, which would be linked to a greater risk of sprain.

The researchers suggest that the higher the  heel the greater the risk of an ankle sprain if running.

There are long-term ramifications, too:  Regular use of high-heeled footwear may contribute to osteoarthritis of the knee  joints, they say.

The greater movement and force focused on the  knees while running in such footwear is a major risk factor.

Although the team studied only a small group  of women aged 21-25 years in laboratory conditions, it is likely that other  people wearing heeled footwear would be exposed to the same risks of injury and  joint wear and tear.

Heels give the wearer a shorter stride, a purportedly more graceful gait and a superficial ‘shaping’ of the leg  towards  the slender.

The study leaders said it was perhaps no surprise that, given the perception of increased attractiveness and  self-confidence, women continue to wear heels despite the pain.

The findings are published in the  International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology.

Previous research has found that women who  swap their heels for flats at the end of the day may also do more harm than  good.

This is because, over time, walking in heels  causes calf muscles to become shorter and weaker.

When the wearer switches to flats, the  muscles are suddenly stretched into a position they are not used to, causing  pain and discomfort.

Scientists at Manchester Metropolitan  University found that women who wear heels five days a week over two years can  shrink their calf muscles by up to 13 per cent.

Read more: DailyMail