Sales of shoes with heels four inches and up have declined in recent years, according to new research from shoe retailer Kurt Geiger.

Shoes with heels four inches and above accounted for nearly half (47 percent) of all non-flat shoe sales.

But these edgier styles now make up just one-sixth (17 percent) of purchases in that particular sector.

At the same time, shoes with heels of just two inches (generally considered an “in-between” height, rather than high) have doubled, and more people are also choosing shoes such as ballerinas and loafers.

And according to Sunday Timesthere may be a number of reasons for the change that do not only relate to changes in fashion.

The outlet reports that some podiatrists believe that Covid shutdown could partially explain the sales figures.

These experts believe that wearing slippers and flip flops more often during the lockdown resulted in some people’s feet spreading out.

Wearing flat, more comfortable, less structured shoes also made some people’s feet softer and wider.

As a result, wearing heels, which are more structured shoes, makes it more uncomfortable and difficult.

Although the lockdown is long over, many people haven’t returned to their pre-2020 footwear habits – even when wearing smarter clothes.

This according to Kurt Geiger’s creative director Rebecca Farrar-Hockley.

She told the Sunday Times that many people are looking for comfort, even when wearing “slicker” ensembles.

“Our customers now seem to be leaning towards ‘occasional wear’ that can offer both height and comfort in equal measure, with platform flats and platform sandals the big winners, closely followed by fun, colorful ballet flats and bright loafers,” she said.

Rebecca added that the trend is nationwide, noting that “flats are outperforming heels” across the UK.

But there are some areas that hang on to their taller shoes more than others, according to the research.

Notably, 31 per cent of heel sales are still in the four inch and over categories in Milton Keynes – significantly higher than the national average of 17 per cent.

And shoe fans in Newcastle also seem keen to hang on to their ultra-high boots, with these styles making up around 26 per cent of sales in the heel sector.

It’s not just comfort that may be a factor in the changes in sales figures: the resurgence of trends from the early 2000s, particularly the preference for kitten heels, may also explain some people opting for styles with lower heels.

This current preference for shoes with lower heels may be good news for some people’s foot health.

Research released back in 2008, when “killer heels” were becoming increasingly popular, suggested that there were a number of problems that could be caused by prolonged wear of such shoes.

High heels in the form of stilettos first became popular in the thirties, but while heels used to be largely “special occasions”, thanks to the success of shows like Sex And The City, by this time wearing staggering heels on a daily basis had become more common.

But the problems that daily wear and tear can cause, which can be permanent, range from hammer tears and knots to irreversible damage to tendons.

Many of the problems – which can occur simultaneously – are caused by the increased pressure high heels put on the ball of the foot; the higher the heel, the greater the pressure. The knee and back can also be affected.

When this research was released, podiatrist Mike O’Neill said: ‘High heels cause you to raise your heel and as soon as you do, your center of gravity is pushed forward.

“What then happens is you arch your lower back to compensate for this and that changes the position of the spine, which puts pressure on the nerves in the back.”

This can cause sciatica, a painful condition where nerves become trapped, triggering pain and numbness as far down as the feet.

Another common problem, Mike said, is that the Achilles tendon — which runs up the back of the leg from the heel — becomes permanently damaged.

‘This tendon is designed to be flexible, so the foot can lie flat or point. But many women who wear high heels too often suffer from a shortening of the tendon because once the heel points up, it tightens. Stretching it again can be very painful.

‘When you try to put your foot in flat shoes, you get a lot of pain in the back of the heel. I’ve seen 70-year-olds still hobbling around in high heels because they can’t put their feet flat anymore, it’s just too painful.’

This latest trend for lower heels can help you avoid these problems.

According to the podiatrist, most women can avoid injuring their Achilles tendon by sticking to heels no higher than 1.5 inches.

Heels that are only three inches or more, worn only more than once or twice a week, can shorten the Achilles tendon.