You wake up in the morning, wear those ‘killer’ six-inch shoes and go to work. You have to make calculated steps and after a few hours of wearing them, there is some strain in your foot or legs or lower back. You ignore it because after all, almost everyone who wears high heeled shoes complains of the same problem. So when you wake up the next day, it’s lather rinse repeat. 

But before you start and end another day of pain, it’s important to know the negative implications of wearing heels, especially on a regular basis.

Why wearing heels is unhealthy

If you’re wondering why heels, no matter how low they are, leave your feet and legs feeling strained most of the time, the answer is pretty obvious — our feet are designed to be flat.

"Whether a person is standing or walking, feet are supposed to be flat with the arches and level on the ground.

High heeled shoes however, elevate the feet in an abnormal manner,” explains Dr Rachna Pande, a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital.

As a result, say experts, you exert a lot of pressure on your toes. To compensate, your body tilts forward, so you lean backwards and overarch your back to compensate.

This posture changes the normal human gait and adds tremendous strain to your hips, lower back, and your knees, explains Dr Joseph M. Mercola, an American osteopathic physician.

Dr Achille Manirakiza, a Medical Resident at University Central Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), says that heels make muscles of the calf tense. These muscles, he says, are involved with nerve extensions of the feet, and when they are overstretched, both nerves and muscles are likely to get damaged.

Studies have also shown that when you continually overarch your back (thus changing the position of your spine), it puts pressure on the nerves in the back, resulting in a condition called sciatica. Sciatica is a back condition in which nerves become trapped, triggering pain and numbness as far down as the feet.

In one of her articles, Natalie A. Nevins, DO, an osteopathic physician from Hollywood, California, USA also says that extended wear of high heels and continually bending your toes into an unnatural position can cause a range of ailments, from ingrown toenails to irreversible damage to leg tendons.

"Additionally, cramming your toes into a narrow toe box can cause nerve damage and bunions. High heels have also been linked to overworked or injured leg muscles, osteoarthritis of the knee, plantar fasciitis and low back pain,” Dr Nevins says.

According to Dr Manirakiza, another major health implication relating to consistent wearing of high heels is the Achilles’ tendon injury or rapture. It is most of the time traumatic and repairable but it might require surgery.

Prolonged wearing of high heels could also result in having flat feet. Researchers in the UK found that wearing high heels can weaken the tendons that support the arch of the foot. As a result, one will have flat feet which can be painful and impair mobility. This may require corrective surgery.

In pregnant women, heels cause strain on the uterus which could result in a miscarriage, says Dr Pande.

Heels are bad for your vessels

If the high heels are closed in front, the toes would be subject to a much closed and not easy-to-breathe-in environment.

This could result in nerve and blood vessels damage, and as compensation, the toes would have to adopt an abnormal posture. Dr Manirakiza says that this is a handicap.

Dr Eric Mutabazi, a physiotherapist at King Faisal Hospital, agrees with Dr Manirakiza. He cites a condition called lymphatic drainage which comes about when blood flow is interrupted.

This in turn results in the formation of varicose veins. By definition, varicose veins are swollen veins under the skin. They look lumpy and dark blue and they mainly affect the legs, particularly the calf. "If you observe this, consult a medical expert about the possibility of an operation,” says Dr Mutabazi.

Heels increase chances of falling

Even without the long-term negative health implications, walking in high heels is a dangerous venture because they change the centre of gravity, say experts. Therefore, a person wearing heels is prone to falling down.

Studies show that when a person falls down while wearing high heels, they are at a higher risk of breaking their foot or dislocating certain joints.

Minimizing complications

If you have not experienced any of the above-mentioned heel-related health complications, count yourself lucky. It is not uncommon for physiotherapists to deal with such cases.

"In the physiotherapy department, 80% of the cases we receive are concerned with back problems. Of those, 15% are as a result of prolonged wearing of high heels,” says Dr Mutabazi.

The talk about dangers of wearing high heels is nothing new. It seems as though people decide to play through the pain. If you fall in this category, experts suggest a number of measures to curb the negative implications.

Dr Mutabazi suggests substituting stilettos for double heels (platforms). This way, you can still look elegant without interfering with your posture.

He also suggests taking breaks from wearing heels during the day. "You can remove them when you’re driving or when you’re seated. Just don’t go over an hour while wearing them.”

To deal with the strain in your feet after wearing heels, Dr Pande suggests soaking them in lukewarm water and exercising your feet and toes.

To exercise your feet and toes, Dr Nevins says, stand at the edge of a step with your shoes off. With your weight on the balls of your feet and your heels extending off the edge, drop your heels down to stretch. You can also put a pencil on the floor and try to pick it up with your toes, she says.

At the end of the day, no health expert recommends wearing high heels since according to them, health should not be compromised in the name of fashion.