Celebrities including Oprah and Victoria Beckham have come out in recent years to decry the wearing of damaging shoes by women all in the name of fashion. As women realize that the long-term health of their feet, knees, hips, and back are more important than fashion, many of them are choosing not to wear uncomfortable shoes at all, or only on special occasions.

Some of the foot and ankle problems caused by wearing high heels include the following:

• Foot neuromas—Wearing high heels causes increased pressure on the ball of the foot where nerves can become damaged causing pain and discomfort.
• Foot deformities like hammertoes and bunions—One of the most common places for a bunion to form is on the outside of the big toe high heels force the toes together in the front of the shoe, contributing to bunion formation. Hammertoes and bunions seem to go together, so ditching the pumps will also decrease the chances of getting bent toes.
• Corns and calluses—Corns and calluses are the body’s response to excessive pressure from footwear, and high heels cause this pressure and the associated skin conditions.
• Plantar fasciitis—The lack of proper arch support from high heels can stress the lining of the bottom of the foot, causing extreme pain and discomfort that is also often felt in the back of the heel. This pain can now be treated with the innovative Tenex Health TX System.
• Achilles tendonitis—Shortening the length of the Achilles tendon is one of the side effects of wearing high heeled shoes, which can become a chronic problem requiring surgery to repair.

If you are suffering from the typical results of wearing high heeled shoes, it is important to see a foot specialist for proper care. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists, Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen, uses advanced technologies and years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems. Common conditions include sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Our foot doctors provide quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown, PA offices. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.