While high heels are fashionable and can enhance the attractiveness of a woman wearing them comes with a set of health dangers.
Michael Liebow, a podiatrist in Bethesda, Maryland, shows his patients a photograph of a foot X-rayed in a high-heel shoe to highlight the fact that our feet have not evolved to walk with the ball of the foot at a nearly 90 degree angle to the bones in the rest of the foot.

 

(SCIENCE SOURCE)
Dr. Sajid A. Surve, DO, co-director of the Texas Center for Performing Arts Health and an associate professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, explains that “from an osteopathic perspective, we’re looking for the body to be centered from head to toe. High heels put the foot at an angle and pull muscles and joints out of alignment, so the effects aren’t limited to the feet."
Here are some of the health dangers of wearing heels:

• Joint Pain: Heels lack shock absorption so your knees take the brunt of every step.
• Lower Back Pain: Heels cause your pelvis to push forward when you walk or stand, placing tremendous pressure on the lower back and causing lingering pain.
• Falls and Sprains: Since your weight is not spread evenly across your foot it becomes easier to lose balance which can cause you to fall and lead to sprained ankles or knees.
• Shortened Achilles Tendon: According to Live Science, women who wear heels over a long period of their lives actually shorten their Achilles tendon. With the heel in the lifted position, heels can actually create a physiologically change in the muscles and tendons around the ankles. That means, when barefoot or wearing flats and shoes that cause the heel to reach the ground, the wearer can feel immense pain and stretching.

To prevent the adverse health conditions that arise from prolonged stiletto wear be sure to wear stylish flats, like a pair of Flat Outs, during the commute to work or to your next black tie event to give your feet, and the rest of your body, a good break!


American Osteopathic Association. (2016). The Real Harm in High Heels. Retrieved November 11, 2016, from American Osteopathic Association

Curtis, J. (2015, January 29). 7 Dangers of Wearing High Heels – tips for comfort
Ianzito, C. (2013, June 17). High-heeled shoes may look good, but they’re bad for your feet.Washington Post