Wearing high heels can update an outfit or make you feel sexy. But high heels can also be a source of potential health risks.
High heels have adorned women’s feet since 3500 BC. By the 16th century, even men of wealth wore them. It’s where the term “well-heeled” came from. It’s true they add contour to the calf and elevate the person, but not everything about high heels is, well, uplifting.
Women spend nearly $40 billion annually on shoes. Even during the recession, while sales of most other items have gone down, footwear sales have gone up compared to the same period last year. It updates an outfit and makes you feel sexy. But the pleasure of that fashionable new pair of high heels may not be worth it. A recent article offered experts opinions on the down-side of high heels.
High heels can cause pain and injury to your feet, legs and back. The high heels affect the way you walk and that can lead to back pain, bunions and hammertoes. Other potential health risks of high heals include:
- Foot and ankle swelling
- Nerve damage
- Pain in the heels and balls of feet
- An unsteady gait
- Sprains
- Degenerative knee disease
Shoe Shopping Tips & Tricks
Here are some steps to keep in mind the next time you shop for a stylish pair of heels
- Buy wider heels to distribute the pressure
- Give your toes some wiggle room
- Shop at the end of the day when your feet are often larger
- Measure your feet regularly to see it they have gotten bigger, especially if you shop online
- Shoes that pinch, even a little, will likely get worse over time – don’t buy them
- Finally and most importantly, avoid heels over 2 inches high. That lowers the stress on your knees and risk of falling
