While high heels can show off your legs, all that glamor comes at a price that fewer people are willing to pay, which is severe damage to your feet and ankles. If you want to decrease the occurrence of corns, ingrown toenails, and bunions, it’s best to forgo the high-heeled shoes and opt for more sensible footwear.

The following are common problems caused by wearing high heels:

• Foot deformities—Having your toes compressed in the small space at the front of high heeled shoes can contribute to excessive stress. This pressure often leads to hammertoes and bunions.
• Foot neuromas—Morton’s neuroma is a condition where nerves become irritated and inflamed, often exacerbated by tightly fitting shoes that squeeze the metatarsal bones together.
• Achilles tendonitis—People who frequently wear high-heeled shoes cause excessive pressure on the Achilles tendon at the back of your heel. This tendon can become shorter over time from wearing high heels and also adversely affects the calf muscles.
• Poor pronation—When you wear high heeled shoes it shifts your balance forward, causing more of the weight and pressure to be placed on the ball of the foot rather than the heel. Overcompensating for this problems creates a misalignment in your spine that radiates to your knees, hips, and back, causing pain and discomfort.

If you must wear high heels, do so in moderation and switch to flats during your commute to give your feet a break from the stress and pressure.

If you have pain and discomfort from wearing high heels, contact your podiatrist for the proper evaluation and best treatments. Call Syracuse Podiatry in East Syracuse, New York. Podiatrists Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico and Dr. Payel Ghosh will help you diagnose and treat your foot or ankle condition. Call 315-446-3668 or make an contact us online today for an appointment.