Every woman has high-heeled shoes in her wardrobe. Here is what high heels can do to your feet:
- Shoes that are too high, tight or loose, or provide insufficient arch support, can cause unwanted overloading of the feet, ankles, knees, hips and spine. Prolonged overload can cause pain and injuries that may limit or prevent participation in work, sport and hobbies.
- The higher the heel, the greater the pressure on the ball of the foot, or forefoot.
- Ideal footwear has a square or wide toe box and a heel no higher than 4 cm.
- If high heels are necessary for you, alternating them with lower heels is recommended. This helps avoid Achilles tendon damage and gives your feet time to recover.
- Higher heels and tight, narrow shoes can cause inflammation on the outer side of the big toe. (More than half of women have hallux valgus, or a bunion deformity.)
- Over time, high heels with narrow toe boxes can cause the foot to take on the shape of the shoe, producing deformities such as hammer toes and thick calluses that later require surgery.
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