Danger Wears High Heels

Do your feet hurt?

Whatever happened to boots made for walking?

Dr. John Coen, an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, Texas, says that keeping up with the latest fashion trends could lead to permanent pain.

Two, three and four-inch heels can not only be uncomfortable, but also may lead to long-term health problems, he said.

"There have been a number of studies that demonstrate that high heels have a profound effect on your feet and ankles and also on your back," he said, adding that there's new research suggesting they can damage knee joints as well.

"Especially when the heels are over an inch and a half, the studies indicated that there were marked increases in strain in the front of the knee, in the area around the knee cap and also in the medial compartment of the inside portion of the knee, which interestingly enough are the areas where we most commonly see knee complaints," Dr. Coen said.

"The foot is designed to be walked on when it's flat, so when you put three-inch heels underneath it, it's going to change things."

But shoes don't need to be completely flat.

"I encourage people to look critically at their shoes and make sure that they're comfortable, especially if they're going to walk long distances," Dr. Coen says. "If you're going to wear something that's stylish, be sure to limit the amount of time that you pursue style over substance."

If that's not enough to worry you, he also says that wearing high heels for extended periods over the long term can lead to arthritis.

Source: The Dallas Morning News. Powered by Yellowbrix.