How Excessive Use Of High Heels Can Affect You

Moderation is key when it comes to wearing high heels, as overuse can lead to certain health risks.

Over time, collecting high heels has become a cult object for many women around the world.

This type of shoe is mainly used at gala events, parties of all kinds, formal events, and work environments. 

For this reason, it is important to consider the risks associated with the improper use of heels.

What happens if I wear high heels for a long time?

The feet are the support for the rest of the body and although shoes only have direct contact with the foot area, the truth is that other parts of your body are involved as you move from one place to another. According to orthopedist Héctor Nuila, the foot provides balance to the entire body structure, so it is important to take certain considerations regarding the use of high heels. 

For this reason, Nuila advises wearing high heels in moderation, since prolonged use of heels or pointed shoes can cause certain inflammations such as Morton’s Neuroma and diseases such as rupture of the plantar plate, which sometimes require surgical intervention: “The shoe should adapt to the foot, not the foot to the shoe,” she indicates.

Nuila says that it is not only high heels that cause these conditions, but also other factors such as being overweight, since the foot must make a greater effort to support the entire structure of the body. 

On the other hand, a study carried out by the medical journal Elsevier indicates that there is no evidence that high-heeled shoes cause reduced function, anatomical deformities, or joint diseases in the feet of a healthy female population between 40 and 66 years of age.

In this regard, orthopedist Juan Jorge García mentions that heels are not the only cause of foot inflammation, but other aspects must also be considered, such as body weight, calf length, foot shape, lack of regular exercise, or sudden changes in heel size, because if you wear a ten-centimeter heel one day and flat shoes the next, this could be harmful to your foot. 

However, it should also be noted that the use of heels is not only associated with the risk of inflammation or infection but also with potential accidents such as fractures or sprains, as indicated by Dr. Ronaldo López, from the National Orthopedic Hospital. In this regard, like other specialists, López also emphasizes the moderate use of high heels. 

Morton’s neuroma and wearing heels

Morton’s neuroma is an inflammation that affects the metatarsal bones and can cause sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot. According to the Mayo Clinic, wearing high heels or tight shoes is associated with the development of this inflammation. 

To treat it, many specialists recommend reducing the size of the heel and using a much wider toe box. In this regard, orthopedist Juan Jorge García emphasizes non-invasive treatments for this condition, since before considering surgery, other less invasive solutions can be considered.

This condition is very common among women who frequently wear high heels, as is the case of Queen Letizia of Spain, who was diagnosed with this condition in 2022. In this sense, it is important to be aware of the moderate use of high heels to avoid conditions that compromise your health and safety.