High Heels Shorten Women's Leg Muscles

Scientists have found out that women who wear high-heel shoes make
their calf muscles shorter. The heels also give many women pain in their
legs when they take them off and walk. The researchers tested different
women aged between 20 and 50 who wore heels that were 5cm or
higher. The research also looked at women who never wore high heels.
The research team used ultrasound to measure the length of the fibers
in the calf muscles. Their results showed that the muscle fibers of high-
heel wearers were 13 percent shorter than those in the non-high-heel-
wearing women.
The researchers also found that women who regularly wore high heels
suffered more muscle aches and pains when they took their shoes off.
This is because their muscles are being overstretched for long periods
and do not have time to relax. Women are advised to do simple
stretching exercises to relieve the pain.
Researchers are not suggesting that women should stop wearing high
heels but they are recommending wearing flat shoes a little more often.
"Fashion is intended to be uncomfortable and none of the women in the
study planned to give up their high heels," said one researcher.

1) Vocabulary
1. heel- a. the answers that are produced by a scientific study or test
2. calf- b. thin pieces of flesh that form the nerves or muscles in your
body
3. ultrasound- c. smooth and level
4. fibers- d. to have physical or mental pain
5. results- e. to rest, to become calm. less stiff or less tight
6. suffer- f. to have a plan or purpose in mind
7. overstretch- g. more than able to do
8. relax- h. a medical process that produces an image of something inside
your body
9. relieve- i. to reduce pain
10. flat- j. the part of the back of your leg between your knee and you
11. intend- k. the raised part on the bottom of a shoe that makes the shoe
higher
 Special Topic: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is only skin-deep.
Age before beauty. When in doubt, wear red. Clothes make the man.
1) Vocabulary
1. heel- K a. the answers that are produced by a scientific study or test
2. calf- J b. thin pieces of flesh that form the nerves or muscles in your body
3. ultrasound- H c. smooth and level
4. fibers- B d. to have physical or mental pain
5. results- A e. to rest, to become calm. less stiff or less tight
6. suffer- D f. to have a plan or purpose in mind
7. overstretch- G g. more than able to do
8. relax- E h. a medical process that produces an image of something inside your body
9. relieve- I i. to reduce pain
10. flat- C j. the part of the back of your leg between your knee and you
11. intend- F k. the raised part on the bottom of a shoe that makes the shoe higher

High Heels Shorten Women's Leg Muscles

Scientists have found out that women who wear high-heel shoes make their calf
muscles shorter. The heels also give many women pain in their legs when they
take them off and walk. The researchers tested different women aged between 20
and 50 who wore heels that were 5cm or higher. The research also looked at
women who never wore high heels. The research team used ultrasound to
measure the length of the fibers in the calf muscles. Their results showed that
the muscle fibers of high-heel wearers were 13 percent shorter than those in the
non-high-heel-wearing women.
The researchers also found that women who regularly wore high heels suffered
more muscle aches and pains when they took their shoes off. This is because their
muscles are being overstretched for long periods and do not have time to relax.
Women are advised to do simple stretching exercises to relieve the pain.
Researchers are not suggesting that women should stop wearing high heels but
they are recommending wearing flat shoes a little more often. "Fashion is
intended to be uncomfortable and none of the women in the study planned to
give up their high heels," said one researcher.

2) Questions
1. What is this article about?
2. What are some of the dangers of wearing high heels?
3. What advice did scientists give to wearers of high heels?
4. Do you ever suffer for fashion? Think of and talk about a few things people do for fashion/beauty
that might be unhealthy or unsafe.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
 Special Topic: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is only skin-deep.
Age before beauty. When in doubt, wear red. Clothes make the man.
1) Vocabulary
1. heel- a. the answers that are produced by a scientific study or test
2. calf- b. thin pieces of flesh that form the nerves or muscles in your body
3. ultrasound- c. smooth and level
4. fibers- d. to have physical or mental pain
5. results- e. to rest, to become calm. less stiff or less tight
6. suffer- f. to have a plan or purpose in mind
7. overstretch- g. more than able to do
8. relax- h. a medical process that produces an image of something inside your body
9. relieve- i. to reduce pain
10. flat- j. the part of the back of your leg between your knee and you
11. intend- k. the raised part on the bottom of a shoe that makes the shoe higher

High Heels Shorten Women's Leg Muscles

Scientists have ___________ that women who wear high-heel shoes make their
calf muscles shorter. The heels also give many women ___________ their legs
when they take them off and walk. The researchers tested different women aged
between 20 and 50 who wore heels that were _______ or higher. The research
also looked at women who never wore high heels. The research team used
ultrasound to measure the _________ of the fibers in the calf muscles. Their
results showed that the muscle fibers of high-heel ___________ were 13 percent
shorter than those in the non-high-heel-wearing women.
The researchers also found that women who regularly wore high heels suffered
more muscle_____________ when they took their shoes off. This is because their
muscles are being overstretched for long periods and do not have time to relax.
Women are advised to do simple ____________ exercises to relieve the pain.
Researchers are not suggesting that women should stop wearing high heels but
they are _____________ wearing flat shoes __________________. "Fashion is
intended to be ______________ and none of the women in the study planned to
give up their high heels," said one researcher.

2) Questions – Answer these questions with your partner.

1. What is this article about?

2. What are some of the dangers of wearing high heels?
3. What advice did scientists give to wearers of high heels?
4. Do you ever suffer for fashion? Think of and talk about a few things people do for fashion/beauty
that might be unhealthy or unsafe. Why do they do it? Do you do it too?

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
3) Write a Quiz! - Write 2 challenging quiz questions and answers about the article
with your partner then test the class.
EX: What did scientists use to measure leg fibers?| a) magic b) an ultrasound c) a calculator
1. | a) b) c)
2. | a) b) c)

4) Free Discussion- Discuss the questions that are interesting to you with your partner.

1. Who's the most beautiful person in Korea? Why? Who's the most beautiful in your family?
2. How much time and money do you usually spend on fashion and beauty?
3. What do you think about plastic surgery, tattoos, and piercings? Have you ever gotten it?
4. What kind of clothes are in fashion now? What was fashionable in the past? What are/were your
favorite fashion trends?

5) On the Red Carpet- You are a celebrity on the Red Carpet at an awards show. You will
be interviewed about your outfit. Answer the questions about your style and fashion.

Think about possible answers to these questions:

1) “What's your favorite thing about your outfit?”

2) “Where did you buy your (dress, shoes, bag, etc)?”
3) “What is your secret to looking (beautiful/elegant/handsome/amazing/your idea)?”

Remember to smile and be charming for all your fans!

6) Pros and Cons – Talk about the pros and cons of these fashion/beauty trends with
your small group. Use the chart to organize your ideas and take notes.

Ask: “What do you think are some good/bad things about _________?” “Why?”
Answer: “I think one positive/negative thing about _____ is that it _____________.”
Fashion Trend Pros (good/helpful/positive) Cons (bad/dangerous/negative)
1. Getting a tattoo

2. Having plastic
surgery

3. Buying designer
brands

4. Wearing make-up
3) Write a Quiz! - Write 2 challenging quiz questions and answers about the article
with your partner then test the class.
EX: What did scientists use to measure leg fibers?| a) magic b) an ultrasound c) a calculator
1. | a) b) c)
2. | a) b) c)

4) Free Discussion- Discuss the questions that are interesting to you with your partner.

1. Who's the most beautiful person in Korea? Why? Who's the most beautiful in your family?
2. How much time and money do you usually spend on fashion and beauty?
3. What do you think about plastic surgery, tattoos, and piercings? Have you ever gotten it?
4. What kind of clothes are in fashion now? What was fashionable in the past? What are/were your
favorite fashion trends?
5) On the Red Carpet- You are a TV reporter on the Red Carpet at an awards show.
You will interview a celebrity about their outfit and style.

Say this and ask these questions:

1) “Ah! Hello _______! You look so (beautiful/elegant/handsome/amazing/your idea) tonight!”

2) “What's your favorite thing about your outfit?”
3) “Where did you buy your ________ (dress, shoes, bag, etc)?”
4) “What is your secret to looking ___________(beautiful/elegant/handsome/amazing/your idea)?”

Remember to be professional and polite to the celebrity!

6) Pros and Cons – Talk about the pros and cons of these fashion/beauty trends with
your small group. Use the chart to organize your ideas and take notes.

Ask: “What do you think are some good/bad things about _________?” “Why?”
Answer: “I think one positive/negative thing about _____ is that it _____________.”
Fashion Trend Pros (good/helpful/positive) Cons (bad/dangerous/negative)
1. Getting a tattoo

2. Having plastic
surgery

3. Buying designer
brands

4. Wearing make-up