Health Risks of High Heels
Stilettos Can Cause Osteoarthritis, Knee Injury and Back Pain
Aug 13, 2009
Nothing complements a power suit more perfectly than a pair of high heels – on top of that, research has shown that tall people inspire more trust and are perceived as better leaders. However, not only are these desperate measures to becoming taller painful; they are also commonly linked with conditions such as osteoarthritis, Achilles tendinitis, back problems and more.
Visible and Invisible Damage: Calluses, Hammertoes, Osteoarthritis
Kicking off one’s high heels at the end of the day, it is not uncommon to find hard calluses or corns on the feet, caused by pressure or friction of toes squashed together in pretty pointy shoes.
Hammertoes are also a common condition, whereby tight-fitting shoes force women to crumple up their toes, shortening the muscles and leaving them bent, with a claw-like appearance. Women may also develop metatarsalgia, caused by inflammation of bones near the ball of the foot.
Unfortunately, high heels can also gradually damage one’s health even when the pain is not immediate. Surprisingly, wide-heeled shoes are believed to be more harmful than narrow stilettos, according to a Harvard research team led by Dr Casey Kerrigan. The former may be more dangerous simply because women feel more comfortable and stable wearing them, so they will spend a longer time in these shoes without realising the risks.
Osteoarthritis is one of these risks which are not felt until it is quite possibly too late. Constant use of high heels cause the body to develop an awkward, unnatural gait, as the weight of the body is not evenly distributed.
This can cause the feet to lose the ability of absorbing the shock of impact, which is then transferred to the knee. The articular cartilage between the leg bones in the knee joint will eventually break down after too much shock absorption, which will lead to symptoms of pain, swelling and decreased motion.
Contradicting Studies Propose Weighty Factors
However, a recent study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health revealed it is unlikely that prolonged wearing of high heels increases women’s risk of developing osteoarthritis. A total of 193 women aged 50 to 70 were interviewed, some with varying degrees of knee problems, as to the regularity to which they wear high heels; however the results were not significant enough to suggest a correlation between the two factors.
Instead, the study proposed that other reasons, such as heavy smoking, previous knee injuries, and being overweight, could be contributing factors. The authors pointed out that being overweight – having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 and above – at age 36-40 years significantly escalated the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee.
Low Heels Better than No Heels
This does not mean women have to stop wearing heeled shoes – in fact, heels that are one-half to three-quarters of an inch are better for the feet heels that are under half an inch, as the latter may not provide adequate shock absorption. Style does not have to be compromised for safety – they can co-exist, and this certainly holds true in women’s fashion.
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