High fashion, high heels, and hammertoes: how shoes contribute to foot pain

Posted on May 14th 2007 8:00AM by Bethany Sanders

Filed Under: Healthy Habits, Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products

When you really sit down and think about it, high heels are just plain silly. Shoes are meant to be put on feet, and feet are made for one thing ... mobility. But high heels are so, so pretty and don't they make our legs look great? So we persist in wearing them, ogling the latest designs, and collecting the uncomfortable (but beautiful) things in our closets.

But do you know what's not beautiful? Corns, callouses, bunions, hammertoes, Morton's neuroma, stress fractures, joint pain, "pump bumps" and tight heel cords. These are just a few of the problems that podiatrists see every day in women, who make up about 90% of foot surgery patients.

So what's a girl to do? The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society says that when it comes to three inch heels, there's a three hour time limit to prevent foot, ankle, knee, and hip problems. They also suggest women stay away from other "cruel shoes" like those with thin soles, spiky heels, or pointed toes (I can hear Stacy protesting as I type this.) Flip-flops and ballet-style flats are no good for extended walking, as is anything that makes your feet hurt. Instead look for shoes that offer good support, more cushioning, and a rounded box toe.

Finally, if you're a self-proclaimed high heel devotee and don't intend to change any time soon, check out this list of tips for wearing high heels.

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Tags: American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, AmericanOrthopaedicFootAndAnkleSociety, dangers of high heels, DangersOfHighHeels, wearing high heels, WearingHighHeels, What Not to Wear, WhatNotToWear

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Lauren 5-17-2007 @ 6:28AM

I totally agree! In my 20's I wore high heels and remember being uncomfortable and the pain. Now in my 40's I look for comfort, there is always an altermative. It seems women dress to impress other women and avoid their critisism. Most men are not aware what's in style. True heels look more attractive, that's why I wear them only when they are necessary.

sue 5-17-2007 @ 7:04AM

I am 55 and have worn very high heels since I was 20. I cannot wear many types of shoes anymore. I have ruined my feet. I have neuromas, pronated feet, and fibramotsis IT IS SO DIFFICULT BUYING SHOES. I get severe toe cramps periodically

Linda 5-17-2007 @ 7:21AM

I realize that high-heels are not the best choice of footwear. However . . .

. . . way-back-when ~ there was nothing like a black dress, pearls and black suede pumps to give a girl an advantage while interiewing. 'specially for a secretarial position.

Jessie 5-17-2007 @ 7:58AM

I'm tall so i don't wear heels much, but now i probably never will since they cause so much damage!

Pat 5-17-2007 @ 8:18AM

In my early working days, the company I worked for, a conservative Atlanta real estate company, would not allow their female workers to wear low heeled shoes or pant suits. Also, it was the days of the pointed-toe shoes. Cramming a foot into such a small space at such an awkward angle can cause unbelievable pain and damage to your foot. I endured bunion operations, pins in my feet, etc., and all in the name of fashion. Once I had to go to the ER because I just could not walk. The doctor's prescription was to buy and wear a pair of Reeboks. That changed my life. I never again wore high heels, only comfortable, low-heeled shoes. Also, it is amazing how productive one can be when their feet do not hurt.

P Weingart 5-17-2007 @ 8:26AM

My bet is Bethany Sanders has legs like a piano and walks like a buffalo and is jealous of any woman with good looking legs, face it ladies we men like high heels.

Adria 5-17-2007 @ 8:36AM

I am a twenty five year old women and just now started wearing heels. I wore them for an hour and threw them away. Now, all I wear are something with cushion and I never go over two inches in heighth. I don't need the heighth because I am six feet tall but, I wear what I like as long there is compfort involved. I am so glad they are making more flatter shoes for the taller women. About time! It was always so hard to find something to fit in and that is a big reason why I started wearing dresss shoes later in life.

Adria ---TX.

Cassie 5-17-2007 @ 8:40AM

Personally, I still love my 4 inch stiletto prom heels. C=

Barb 5-17-2007 @ 8:43AM

OMG, how all those comments resounded with me. I am 60 years old. Wore high heels in HIGH SCHOOL....wore them all though my adult life and finally in my 40's had to give the shoes I loved so much UP, because I also have neuroma's (pain near my toes) arthritis in my ankles (had to give up tennis) two hammer toes (one on each foot) heel spurs, spurs on my instep, and my feet NEVER feel good, no matter what shoe I wear. I've had knee problems, and have had a hip replaced. ALL BECAUSE I HAD TO LOOK STYLISH!! COME ON GIRLS...WAKE UP!!! what looks and feels great today, will be tomorrow horror for you. I know, I know..it makes your legs look great. Oh yes, I remember that too...but that memory isn't as vivid as the pain I have in my feet every single day. It clouds what I do, and it's always on my mind. Looking back, it was not worth the stylish look. Find comfortable, and stylish shoes..they are available. Be smart and you won't be a cripple in your 50's. Time moves very quickly and you 20 somethings will be very surprised with how fast you've reached the age of pain.

sheila 5-17-2007 @ 8:44AM

a friend of mine and I went to New Orleans. I begged her to put on some sandals and quit wearing her high heeled, pointed toed pumps all day and night on the uneven streets. After she heeded my advice, I understood her reluctance to show her feet. Years of cramming her feet into uncomfortable shoes has caused her toes to be deformed. the toes lay on top of each other and are calloused. Her feet hurt because the tendons have shortened from always walking on her toes. Pretty ugly and painful. So while she looked pretty goofy walking around in pumps all day, I now understand why.

mandy 5-17-2007 @ 8:43AM

American women way too heavy to even walk on regular shoes , not to mention high heels. It is something that we dont keep in mind . Saddly , I 'm overweight myself and trying to loose another 20 pounds ,now as I'm getting lighter it is much easy to walk on anything!

Barb 5-17-2007 @ 9:00AM

Oh just me again #7..Barb. I fogot to mention that I also had weekly injections of novicane/alcohol into my toe area for the morton's neuoma pain I had back in my 40's. And yet I still wore heels! How dumb was I? Please do not poo-poo my comments, I am sitting writing this and can still feel pain in my feet. As I said, it's with me everyday, and prevents me from doing so many things I'd love to do. Like walking!

susan 5-17-2007 @ 9:05AM

i am 52 and have worn all types of heels. yes, the high heels can hurt, but i often switch heel heights. i love footwear, especially boots. high heels with a rounded toe cause a lot less pain. i agree, dump the pointed toe stilettos

Frank 5-17-2007 @ 9:08AM

They may not be the best thing for your feet but they do wonders for your overall look! Nothing beats a sexy pair of heels! Fortunately, there is no male counterpart; I guess its just another unfair thing most women will suffer through. I would suggest moderation; maybe a two to three inch heel as opposed to a four to five inch heel and wear them intermittently.

Christine 5-17-2007 @ 9:18AM

I'm 23 and even though I wear heels to work because that is the nature of my job, I try to wear lower ones that are more comfortable and have support. I can NOT understand those around the same age as me that wear these super high heels that obviously look great but are SO uncomfortable! When I have to wear heels for any dress up occassion or something of that nature I usually end up taking them off and walking around without them because they make me miserable and I get in a bad mood if my feet hurt. I just can't understand sacrificing comfort just to look good for a few hours...but most of my friends do it, so I guess it's important to them. Good to hear some of the future problems we could incur if we kept wearing these stylish "super cute" heels that are damaging, not only our feet, but our whole body!! Whoever invented heels should be shot...probably a male :oP

Geegee Davis 5-17-2007 @ 9:17AM

I am 60. I wore heels in the 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's. Now when I attempt to wear even a low heel, I get a terrible pain in my toe next to my little toe on my left foot. It is a pain on the level of a 10 !! It is immediate and severe. I can't see anything wrong with my toe, and I don't feel any growth etc. But I have to immediately take the shoe off and put on a flat. What could this be ??? It is like an exploding pain. I went to Podiatrist's sites to see if they described anything like this condition. But I did not find it. Does anyone know what this is and how it can be treated ? Now, people be real. No mean answers please. I am a nice old retired teacher. Let me know what you think.. Thanks... GGCDM2

Christine 5-17-2007 @ 9:39AM

I am now 60 and also wore high heels for many, many years starting at age 18. Even though I was 5'9", I would wear 3 inch or higher heels. I loved the way they made my legs look and I didn't care who thought they made me look too tall and should wear flats. My husband is 6'2" so I really, really did not care after we were married. I love shoes and am sad I have had to choose more comfortable footwear (which in most cases is not so attractive) I have also done what another writer confesses to and squeezed my feet into shoes that did not fit properly because they were cute and made my feel look smaller. My sister had bunions removed for the same reason and her feet have never been the same. When I started having children (at age 28) and became a stay-at-home mom, I basically ran around with no shoes a lot of the time. However, when I got back into the work force, I went back to being "stylish" . My feet and knees have suffered and my back has suffered too. I now have arthritis in the joints in my big toes. Oddly enough my doctor believes this problem in my toes is also from wearing "clogs" and flip flops. I quit wearing these totally and have met other women who have done the same. While "clogs" or flip flops are easy to wear and look really cute and stylish, women don't understand that their toes are doing all the work to keep these types of shoes on your feet. They will pay a price later in life for this too. I would like to see more warnings to young girls about these types of shoes and sandals. I can't take shopping for more than a couple of hours because my feet hurt so bad. I also love to walk and I love to play tennis but have to take pain meds because my feet hurt so bad. I have two daughters who, thank God, are more sensible than I was. It truly was not worth it. You youngsters out there go right ahead and dismiss all the comments by us more mature ladies who have "been there, done that", but don't say we didn't warn you.

Kathryn 5-17-2007 @ 9:54AM

A suggestion to P. Weingart........ I think it's great that men love high heels... and I suggest then that YOU wear them, and YOU go through the foot surgeries I went through. I just spent $255.00 for a pair of Orthodic shoes because my feet and back are ruined.
Thank you very much. :)

Mary Dudzienski 5-17-2007 @ 9:45AM

I'm a 57-year-old retired teacher who started wearing high heels when I was in high school. I wore them for years, but have not had a pair of heels on my feet in almost 20 years. Why, you ask? In addition to all the problems that high heels and pointed toes can cause, I also have both Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis. I've had 16 surgeries in my right foot, which now sports two permanent screws and an artificial joint, and 6 surgeries on my left foot. Yes, a lot of the damage is a result of the arthritis, but the shoes I wore for so many years only made the problems worse. Ladies...do yourselves a favor and take care of your feet. Any surgery is painful, but surgery on bone (as is done for most foot issues) is the most painful. As a person who has had several tissue as well as bone surgeries, I can tell you that if you continue to wear those high heels strictly for the sake of fashion, you will pay for it big time down the road. Not only will you be in constant pain, but you'll also have ugly, knarled, and deformed toes. Believe me, THAT isn't pretty!

Elaine 5-17-2007 @ 9:55AM

How true,when wearing those high heels with the pointed toes,definitly do not help your feet in later years.The thing in a nut shell, there is problems with the feet, as we grow older.But we have to live and learn,unless our feet are made out of cement.Bones have a way of changing, because of the wear and tear.