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Investigation of an adjustable high heel shows that the root problem is the technical contradiction of the shank. The pivotal mechanism and locking/unlocking mechanism are intriguing and complex. Among them, Camileon Heels uses a pivotal heel mechanism such that the shoes are high heeled during normal office time but can be converted to flats during leisure time by bending the heel around the pivot. Other approaches are described in various patents. The drawback of this approach is that the user needs to carry the extra heel in her purse, causing inconvenience. Mime et Moi, a German high-heel brand, makes a dual-function high heel where the heel can be switched between different heights. The dual-function high heels not only allow the wearer to go out with only one pair of shoes but also save time in commuting back and forth between home, office, and venues for social gatherings. High-heel shoes with a dual function of working as both high heels and flats have long been sought for ladies. Functionally, these two phenomena seem to counteract each other since no significant differences in static or dynamic torques were observed.
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We conclude that long-term use of high-heeled shoes induces shortening of the GM muscle fascicles and increases AT stiffness, reducing the ankle's active range of motion. However, no differences in the GM PCSA to AT CSA ratio, torque-angle and torque-velocity relationships were found. Also, because of greater AT CSA, AT stiffness was higher in the HH group (136.2+/-26.5 N mm(-1) vs 111.3+/-20.2 N mm(-1)). Shorter GM fascicle lengths were observed in the HH group (49.6+/-5.7 mm vs 56.0+/-7.7 mm), resulting in greater tendon-to-fascicle length ratios. Gastrocnemius medialis (GM) fascicle length, pennation angle and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), the Achilles' tendon (AT) length, cross-sectional area (CSA) and mechanical properties, and the plantarflexion torque-angle and torque-velocity relationships were assessed in both groups. To test this hypothesis, 11 women regularly wearing HH and a control group of 9 women were recruited. As muscles and tendons are highly malleable tissues, chronic use of HH might induce structural and functional changes in the calf MTU. Wearing high heels (HH) places the calf muscle-tendon unit (MTU) in a shortened position.