High-heeled shoe

From ArticleWorld

A high-heeled shoe is one that artificially raises the heel of the foot, resulting in an alteration of the normal horizontal position of the foot. In general, women wear this type of shoe much more than men and do this in order to appear taller and because it is culturally esthetically-pleasing.

Foot problems

High-heeled shoes cause multiple health problems with the foot of the wearer. This type of shoe pushes the toes downward for long periods of time so the toes can blister, form calluses and eventually deform into “hammer-toes”, which are deformed crooked toes from having prolonged excess pressure placed upon them. Corns on the toes can develop from this pressure as well.

Many high-heeled shoes are also quite narrow. This can result in crowding of the toes and a deformity of the first metatarsal-phalangeal joint, also called a bunion. If a woman chooses to continue to wear this type of shoe, surgery is sometimes necessary to repair the deformity. In addition, the narrowness of the shoes can lead to the development of a Plantar neuroma (or Morton’s neuroma), which is a collection of nerve tissue at the far end of the foot between any of two toes. This neuroma must be surgically removed to reduce the intense pain of this condition.

High-heeled shoes also place extra stress on the arch of the foot so that the foot can flatten or elongate. Flat feet aren’t generally problematic unless the foot becomes rigid and doesn’t fit well into shoes with arches. Some of these shoes are made with arches that support the arch of the foot better than others.

Other health problems

Women who wear only high-heeled shoes can develop a shortening of their Achilles’ tendon in the back of the heel. In some cases, the angle between the foot and the leg can become permanently altered due to shortening of the tendon. A woman who develops this must walk on her tiptoes or may need physical therapy or surgery to correct the problem.

Back pain is common in those who wear high-heeled shoes. Because walking in that type of shoe throws of the biodynamics of walking, the back must compensate for the abnormal position of the foot and lordosis or the “arching backward” of the lower back can occur.