Calf muscle damage to lower back pain, more: 10 side effects of wearing high heels every day

Stylish but harmful? Orthopaedic experts warn that wearing high heels too often can cause foot pain, back issues, and long-term posture problems. (Image: Pexels)

Heels have always stood for style, grace, and confidence.  Whatever the setting, from red carpets to corporate boardrooms, they’re a fashion mainstay for lots of people. But behind the glitter, a health issue is percolating. Regularly donning those sky-high footwear can do more than give you temporary discomfort; it causes long-term health problems to your feet, joints, spine, and posture overall.

The minute you slip on those stilettos, your body weight is unnaturally pushed to the front, and your muscles, bones and ligaments have to compensate in ways they weren’t intended. Over time, this misalignment can set off a chain reaction of painful issues, including bunions, back pain, and more. While such occasional wear might not do significant damage, start making “heels” a daily habit, and the trouble starts.

Dr Meera Kulkarni, Orthopaedic Specialist, CityCare Multispeciality Hospital, Bengaluru cautions that if you wear high heels on a regular basis, they can damage not just your lower limbs but also your hips and spine, causing a trail of musculo-skeletal problems. If you have ever had achy soles, tender calves or back pain following a day in heels, that is your body signalling distress.

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Here are 10 ways high heels might be quietly harming your health — and why it’s time to reconsider your shoe choices.

Foot Pain and Bunions

Pointy shoes splinter the toes, leading to bunions — swollen, bony bumps near the big toe. These shapes gradually become worse over time, necessitating medical treatment.

Increased Risk of Ankle Sprains

The center of gravity is lifted with high heels, so your ankles are more wobbly. A slight misstep can lead to sprains, if not breaks.

Calf Muscle Shortening

Consistently wearing high-heeled shoes keeps the calf muscles engaged or contracted, particularly at the back, leading to tightness and diminished flexibility over time.

Knee Joint Stress

Hills cause your body to drive forward with every step, exerting more pressure on your knees. This speeds up cartilage wear and tear, increasing the chances of developing osteoarthritis.

Lower Back Pain

When standing on your heels, your back arches and your spine is unnaturally curved, putting strain on the lower back muscles and resulting in chronic pain.

Hip Misalignment

The pitch associated with high heels throws pelvic alignment off kilter, causing hip discomfort as well as long-term poor posture.

Plantar Fasciitis

Heels put additional pressure on the arch of the foot, which can inflame the plantar fascia and result in extreme heel pain.

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Nerve Compression

Tight-fitting heels pinch nerves in the toes, causing numbness, tingling or the painful condition known as Morton’s neuroma.

Posture Problems

High-heels play havoc with your natural stance, pulling your bones and muscles into shapes they’re not meant to be in and this can cause long-term alignment problems.

Impact on Balance and Falls

They are also highly unstable so the likelihood of taking a fall is greatly increased; especially when stairs or uneven ground is involved.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.