After pregnancy, women Have larger Feet

After pregnancy, women Have larger Feet. Pregnancy could increase a woman's foot size, a modification that appears to be permanent, in keeping with a brand new study.

Researchers measured the arch height and foot length of forty nine women during their pregnancy and five months when that they had given birth. On average, the women's arch height weakened, and in turn, their foot length enhanced between two and 10 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.4 inches) — during this period.

Overall, about 60 to seventy % of the women had longer feet and shorter arches when accouchement, the researchers aforesaid. Eleven of the women reported changes in their shoe size, the researchers aforesaid.

While previous studies have documented changes in foot size during pregnancy, none had looked to check if the changes persisted when delivery. "I detected such a big amount of women talking about having to travel obtain new shoes when pregnancy," aforesaid study researcher Neil sculpturer, AN associate professor of medical science and rehabilitation at the University of Iowa. This prompted sculpturer to look into the issue more.

In AN earlier study, sculpturer surveyed about 110 women at a mall, and asked if their shoe size had ever changed during their adult years. while simply thirteen % of girls who'd ne'er been pregnant aforesaid it had, between 30 to 60 % of girls WHO had been pregnant a minimum of once aforesaid their shoe size had changed.

The modification in foot size could also be because of the additional weight women carry around during pregnancy, that puts larger stress on the feet, and, thus, could flatten the arch, the researchers aforesaid. in addition, pregnant women turn out hormones that increase the movableness of the joints and ligaments (tissue that connects bone to bone), presumably creating the foot structure more malleable.

Most of the women concerned in the new study WHO old changes in their foot length and arch height were first-time mothers. women had given birth to 2 or three youngsters failed to experience such important changes. This result suggests that a woman's initial pregnancy could have the best impact on foot size, the researchers aforesaid. but a larger study will be required to confirm this, sculpturer supplemental. (Twenty-nine of the women in the study were first-time moms; seventeen were second-time moms, and three were third-time moms.)

Changes in the feet during pregnancy could make a case for why women are at enhanced risk for pain or inflammatory disease in their feet, knees, hips and spine than men, Segal said. A planar  foot can strain the ligaments in the foot's sole, causing changes in gait that place extra strain on the knees, Segal said.

Segal plans to do more studies to work out if foot changes during pregnancy do indeed lead to other health issues, such as inflammatory disease. He conjointly plans to investigate whether or not modifying the footwear of pregnant women can stop foot flattening..

The study will be printed in the March issue of the american Journal of Physical medication & Rehabilitation.