1.     Introduction

“High Heels” shoes raises the heel of the wearer’s foot significantly higher than the toes.  High heels tend to give the aestheticillusion of longer, more slender legs. The heels are found in many different shapes, including stiletto, pump (court shoe), block, tapered, blade, and wedge.

“Low heels” (flat shoes) are considered less than 2.5 inches (6.4 centimeters), while heels between 2.5 and 3.5 inches (6.3 and 8.9 cm) are considered “mid heels”, and anything over that is considered a “high heel”.

2.     Disadvantages of High Heels shoes :

• It can cause foot pain.
• It increases likelihood of ankle sprains and fractures.
• It makes calves look more rigid and sinewy.
• It can create foot deformities, including hammertoes and bunions.
• It can cause an unsteady gait.
• It can shorten the wearer’s stride.
• It can render the wearer unable to run.
• It can damage the soft tissue and tendon that supports the foot.
• A higher incidence of degenerative joint disease of the knees (Osteoarthritis). This is because they cause a decrease in the normal rotation of the foot, which puts more rotation stress on the knee.
• It can cause lower back strain, because the heel causes your body to pitch forward more than normal, putting excess pressure on the back

3.      High Heels shoes cause aesthetic illusion

• It changes the angle of the foot with respect to the lower leg, which accentuates the appearance of calves.
• It changes the wearer’s posture, requiring a more upright carriage and altering the gait in what is considered a seductive fashion.
• It makes the wearer appears taller.
• It makes the legs appear longer.
• It makes the foot appears smaller.
• It makes the toes appear shorter.
• It makes the arches of the feet higher and better defined.

4.     Conclusion

It is suggested that the wearer spend at least a third of the time they spend on their feet in contour-supporting “flat” shoes (such as exercise sandals), or well-cushioned “sneaker-type” shoes.

If it is not possible to avoid high heels altogether, wear high heels only for special occasions, when you don’t have to walk a lot or perform energetic activities.

Times that are more suitable for high heels include activities such as birthday parties and graduation parties.

Choose a high heeled footwear with a narrower width, where the heel is closer to the front, more solidly under the ankle, the toe cover provides enough room for the toes movement, and where forward movement of the foot in the shoe is kept in place, rather than by the toes being rammed or crushed forwards into the front of the toe cover.

Don’t step toe first or place your heels and toes on the ground at the same time when walking. Walk the same way you would with flats – with each step you take, place your heel on the ground first, and then the ball of your foot/toes.