Every lady loves the way her legs look in a killer pair of high heels. But what most women don’t know is that habitual use of those great shoes can have severe effects on joint health. High heels change foot posture, which then in turn changes the alignment of the entire lower body and the direction of the pull of gravity in relationship to those joints, thus stresses muscles in an abnormal fashion.

High heels can increase the pressure on your forefoot by up to 76% and remove the hips and spine from their natural alignment. The abnormal stress placed on the joints and muscles can result in a variety of injuries, including tendonitis, stress fractures, sprains and strains, and osteoarthritis.  Habitual wearers of high heels are also in danger of developing a wide variety of overuse injuries.

So what is a girl to do when she’s got a closet full of cute shoes that aren’t that great for her feet? Just as with any other vice, high heels are okay…in moderation.

Tips for Wearing High Heels

1. Try not to wear those sky high stilettos more than three days per week
2. Stick to the shoes with a heel of less than one inch when possible
3. If you’re going to be walking long distances, wear a pair of supportive sneakers and toss the cute shoes in your bag to change into when you reach your destination.
4. Perhaps most importantly, pay attention to your body.

If the shoes you love consistently cause you pain, whether it’s achy pain elsewhere in the body or sharp pinching pain of your toes, retire them or give them away. Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong and failure to heed the message may result in serious injury.

If you suffer from joint pain, whether you suspect it’s related to your footwear choices or otherwise, contact an Athletico Physical Therapist near you to schedule an appointment with a qualified therapist for a free injury screening.

Read more about the hindrance high heels may be causing you here.