KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsHigh heel physiology

Ladies often love their high heels. And for many.. the higher the better. We all know they can take a toll on your feet, but did you know they can still be hurting your tootsies long after you take them off?

The sky's the limit when it comes to hair stylist Kari Myers' high heels! As a petite woman... She admits she could use the extra height. "Being 5 feet, I have to raise my shoulders a lot," said Kari Myers. But spending all day in her heels, helping people look their best, isn't always the best for her feet. "My feet hurt at the end of the day," said Kari.

But according to a new study in the Journal of Applied Physiology, those high heels are hurting your feet long after you take them off and switch to something else. The study showed women who sport pumps on a regular basis start walking in that "heel pose" even when barefoot. That could result in a variety of consequences from shortened calf muscle fibers to a tighter Achilles tendon. "There's a potential you could end up with strain, you can end up with sprain, you can even, in a worst case scenario, end up with rupture," said Dr. Amanda Flemming.

The average age of the women in the study was just 25, showing these physiological changes can happen quickly. And Kari's not alone. According to another survey, 42% of women admit they'd wear a shoe they like, even if it hurt. And a whopping 73% say they've already had a shoe-related injury. "There's a lot of girls like me out there," said Kari. For now, Kari vows to keep sporting those heels, but promises to cut back. "Maybe I'll start lowering the heels, going from 6 inches down to 3!" said Kari.

Now, don't just throw out those stilettos heels! Experts say it is okay to wear them, just do it in moderation.