Medical Edge Newspaper Column

Stiletto Heels Are Murder On Your Feet

July 23, 2006
DEAR MAYO CLINIC:
I love my stiletto heels, but my feet don't. Is there a way to be fashionable, yet minimize the wear and tear on my aching feet? -- Rochester, Minn.

ANSWER:
Be a stiletto fashionista only on special occasions if you can't give up those high, pointed heels.

Simply put, shoes with stiletto heels aren't designed with walking in mind. (I have a theory that shoes with stiletto heels are designed by men who never have to walk in them.)

With heels two inches or taller, your foot slides forward, cramming your toes into the front of the shoe. That can cause hammertoes, a deformity in which the toes curl at the middle joint. If you wear them frequently, stilettos can contribute to permanent bunions -- bony bumps that form at the base of your big toe. They can also contribute to other foot problems including corns, calluses and toenail problems.

Stiletto heels also change the mechanics of your gait. That tiny heel hits the ground with a force several times your body weight. They can cause pain in your knees. Stiletto heels change your center of gravity, meaning you have to arch your back to stay balanced. That arching can cause lower back pain.

Instead of wearing stilettos everyday, try heels lower than two inches that have a wider heel. Even platform shoes are a better option than stiletto heels -- but you do have to be careful not to twist an ankle.

If you've worn stilettos for a long time, you may have forgotten this: It's not normal for feet to hurt. If you wear stilettos often, you're very likely to have pain and foot problems. If you just can't give up your favorite stilettos, wear them for special occasions or for short periods of time.

-- Jeffrey Brault, D.O., PT, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.