Good news for Victoria, Gwyneth et al: high heels are safer than trainers!

It's claimed today that training shoes are worse for your feet than wearing heels. The US study, carried out by Dr Casey Kerrigan from JKM Technologioes in Virginia, said trainers protect the feet from the impact of hitting the ground. But they then transmit that force into the ankle, knee and hip joints, setting the body up for future problems.

68 runners were surveyed, none of whom had a history of injury. It was found that wearing running shoes increased rotational stresses on the hip joints by 54% and heightened knee stresses by 36%.

So now the field's open for Nike or whoever to invent a running shoe with a wedge, heel or platform. Finally a running shoe that looks good and prevents joint stress.