Women often go to great lengths to look their best. For many, this means throwing comfort to the curb. Unfortunately, according to women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm, the negative consequences of certain fashion trends far outweigh the positives. Case in point: High heels.
Marla Ahlgrimm explains that high heels can hurt a woman’s feet in many ways. First and most obvious is that the foot is angled unnaturally. This means that weight is distributed unevenly. As a result, the toes can actually deform, leaving a regular wearer with a condition known as hammertoe. Bunions are also common in women who wear high-heeled shoes.
It is not just the toes, however, that suffer when a woman puts on her favorite Cinderella shoes. Because of the added weight, explains Marla Ahlgrimm, the heel of the foot along with the Achilles tendon are subjected to strain they were never meant to bear a burden. Perhaps most alarmingly, wearing ill-fitting high heels day in and day out can cause cracks in the bones of the feet that never get a chance to heal.
Moving up the body, high-heeled shoes can also cause extreme leg and back pain. Marla Ahlgrimm asserts that part of this is because women often lean back in an attempt to offset their unnatural foot position. This forced posture can wreak havoc on everything from the ankles and knees to the back and neck.
Marla Ahlgrimm says that instead of wearing high heels all the time, it is best to alternate between sensible footwear and shoes built for fashion. She insists that a pair of stylish flats will look just as good with a pantsuit as stilettos. On the weekends or in a casual setting, opt for supported sneakers, and make a point to go barefoot whenever possible since the human body was perfectly designed to function without shoes.
