Foot doctors have long noticed that women who wear higher heels tend to complain of more foot pain, and warned against sporting spike heels. Now a study shows that the higher the heel, the more pressure wearers put on the ends of mid-foot bones that connect to the toes.
For the study, male and female volunteers had pressure readings taken as they stood with their heels on wooden blocks ranging from one to two inches high. The higher the block, the more pressure the volunteers put on the ends of their metatarsal bones, which could lead to the pain and foot injuries some high-heel wearers suffer.
To limit problems, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society suggests people wear shorter heels — preferable under 2 inches — and try to save high heels for special occasions where you won’t be on your feet for long stretches of time.
