High Heels: When Fashion Takes a Toll on Your Bones and Joints.

You love how your favorite pair of stilettos lengthen your legs. High heels may look stylish, but your back pays the price. Our bodies aren't created to walk on the balls of our feet or with our weight shifted forward. 

Have you ever wondered what those high heels are doing to your feet, ankles, knees, and back? Progressively, wearing stilettos affect your posture, mobility, and health. 

Posture and Gait

When you slip on a pair of high heels, your whole body adjusts to an unnatural position. Your posture changes, and your gait changes. Gait is a person's manner of walking. 

First, your pelvis tilts forward, causing your lower back to arch. Your knees are forced into hyperextension, which can cause pain and damage the joint. Normally, your heel hits the ground first when you walk, but in high heels, your weight is shifted forward onto the balls of your feet.

Your balance and stability are compromised, making you more prone to falls and fractures. The overall rate of high-heel-related injuries is approximated to be 7.32 per 100,000 females

The Impact on Knees and Hips

Scientific literature supports that high heels also change the alignment of your ankles and feet, which can lead to conditions like bunions, hammertoes, and neuromas.

Your knees have to work harder to keep you balanced in heels, straining the joints and tendons. This can lead to pain, inflammation, and even arthritis over time. High heels also change the natural alignment of your knees and hips, putting extra pressure on them.

High heels reduce your ankle mobility and stability. Your body has to make adjustments at each joint to accommodate the lack of range of motion in your ankles. This chain reaction of strain and misalignment up your legs can do some damage.

The higher and skinnier the heel, the more severe these effects become. If high heels are a must for work, choose a lower, wider heel when possible, and limit the time spent in them.

If you frequently wear high heels, you may develop a condition known as “pump bump” where a bony growth forms on the back of your heel. You can also end up with a pinched nerve in your ankle or foot. 

To prevent or reduce ankle problems from high heels, choose lower and wider heels when possible, stretch and massage your feet and ankles, and consider wearing compression socks or braces for added support and stability. 

High heels squeeze your feet into an unnatural shape that can lead to permanent changes over time. The most common issue is bunions. Bunions form when your big toe joint becomes swollen and misaligned, causing a bony bump to develop. 

A Recipe for Arthritis

Over time, the cartilage in your knees breaks down faster, leading to osteoarthritis. Your knees have to absorb the impact of each step in heels, which can worsen existing knee injuries like meniscus tears or ligament sprains.

The pain and inflammation in your knees may start to feel normal, but that doesn’t mean the damage isn’t accumulating. Many women end up needing knee replacement surgery later in life due in part to long-term high-heel wear.

For the health of your back, choose supportive and comfortable footwear whenever possible. Your back will thank you for it in the long run by remaining pain-free and mobile well into your later years. Finding the right balance of fashion and function will allow you to look stylish without compromising your back health and mobility. 

So ladies, while those sky-high stilettos may make your legs look amazing and boost your confidence, your feet and the rest of your body are paying the price. Is it worth potential permanent damage just for a few hours of fashion and style?

Your health and mobility are so important, especially as you get older, so do yourself a favor and give your feet a break.