High Heels Damage More Than Just Feet

High heels have become a staple for fashion lovers everywhere, regardless of the pain they may cause. Despite the saying, "Beauty is pain," high heels may be causing more than just pain. These basic fashion accessories might lead to health problems, not only in the feet, but for other parts of the body as well. 

A 2014 survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association revealed that high heels were the leading cause of food pain in women, reports Time. The study, which was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, concluded that the pain was caused by the foot being in constant "plantarflexed" position while in high heels.  

Painful muscle fatigue and strain injury can occur due to the foot's position, according to the authors of the study, reports Time. According to Dr. Rodney Stuck, division director of podiatry at Loyola University Chicago, wearing high heels can lead to several feet-related problems like calluses, bunions, ingrown nails, or even blisters.  

Some might think that high-heeled shoes only affect the feet, when in fact they can affect the entire body. According to Daily Mail, wearing high-heels makes the body alter its natural alignment which can cause "serious spinal pain." As the spine re-adjusts due to the heels, so does the pelvis.  

The Spine Health Institute explains, "A woman's body will attempt to compensate for the off-kilter balance heels cause by flexing or forward bending the hips and spine. In order to maintain balance, the calf, hip, and back muscles become tense."  

Daily use of high heels can change the structure of a woman's body, reports Spine Health Institute. High heels add stress to the back and the knees as well as shorten muscles and thicken tendons. It can also affect a woman's posture, while trying to maintain balance in the body. When wearing high heels the lower part of the body leans forwards, while the upper part leans back, affecting the posture of the body. 

Wearing high heels may look good, but they are a health risk and can lead to accidents, reports Daily Mail.  

"Now the fashion is for six to eight inch heels, women fall from a greater height, and the foot is pointing right down towards the floor, so when they slip it tends to twist back underneath the shin bone. They don't just break the ankle, they shatter it," says Chris Walker, a consultant orthopedic surgeon.