The Lowdown on High Heels

Sure, high heels are fashionable. You feel stylish when you wear them and you like the way you make them look. But podiatrists like Dr. James M. McKee are unanimous in their recommendation that, if you choose to wear high heels, you should save them for special occasions. Women who wear rigid pumps every day are at increased risk for a wide range of foot health issues including:

• Ankle Sprains: When you wear high heel shoes, so little of your foot is in contact with the ground that stability is compromised. Sprains and other foot and ankle injuries are possible.

• Joint Pain: Those stilettos force your feet into unnatural positions and increase the load on the ball of the foot. Pain can result, especially at the ankle. Some women even experience “referred pain,” which is pain in another joint as a result of compensating for these unnatural shapes in their stance or gait.

• Foot Deformities: Most high heel shoes have narrow, pointed toe boxes that squeeze the toes into a cramped space. Doing this once in a great while isn’t likely to cause too much trouble, but if you do it day after day, you increase your risk of painful bunions and hammertoes.

• Haglund’s deformity: Popularly known as “pump bump,” Haglund’s deformity is a bony protrusion at the back of the ankle that results from the long-term wearing of rigid shoes. Even men who wear firm shoes every day are at risk.

Are you worried about the effect that high heel shoes are having on your foot health, or do you have another concern about the health and wellness of your feet, ankles, or lower legs? Schedule a visit with James M. McKee, DPM, FACFAS in Podiatry Group of Annapolis, P.A.’s modern, comfortable offices in Hartford and Rocky Hill. Our doctors will examine your feet, arrive at a precise diagnosis, and work with you to create an effective plan for treatment and ongoing care. Call our staff at 410-224-4448 or click here to get started today.