Does doing housework in high heels affect calories burnt?
No. Just the opposite. By ‘fixing’ the position of your ankle, the shoe will prevent you from using a lot of the muscles in your lower leg that stabilise the position of your foot. This is one reason why heels lead to leg problems, together with problems in joints higher up the body. A small number of muscles end up overworking to maintain the limited posture produced by wearing the shoes. Bare feet spread out when supporting your weight, and adapt to the shape of surfaces you stand on. This activates a range of different muscles, and uses them for different ranges-of-motion. Being more active, they will consume more energy. As you get used to the level and type of activity, these muscles will develop more strength and better capabilities, and will need more energy during ‘rest’, too. If you perform foot exercises while doing the housework barefoot, this will increase the training effect and burn even more calories. Try walkng on the outsides, then on the insides, of both feet. Turn th
