Q: Can wearing high heels lead to chronic foot injuries?
S.B., Carmel, Calif.
A: Yes, wearing high-heeled shoes can lead to foot injury. For one, high heels essentially push up the calf and buttock muscles and cause leg muscles to contract. Over time, this can result in chronically tight calves and Achilles tendonitis. When you wear heels, impact forces are transferred from the sturdy heel and arch to the ball of your foot. The higher the heel, the more body weight the ball is supporting. This can cause all sorts of problems, from metatarsal bruising and hammertoe deformities to corns, bunions and calluses.
What should you do if you must wear high heels? First, stretch on a regular basis, paying special attention your calves. Also, choose dress shoes with a wider, less pointy toebox. Look for shoes with a soft, cushiony forefoot that will protect the balls of your feet. And to prevent your feet from overly adapting to high-heeled shoes, alternate your shoe heights daily. Other options include wearing metatarsal pads or orthotics in your shoes to shift back impact forces into the arches of your feet.