by Diane Mackenzie

Created on: July 28, 2007

High heels are super sexy, physically flattering and come in all shapes, sizes, colors and textures. Boots, pumps and even flip flops can all be purchased with high heels. However, they are not meant as everyday foot wear. When I was younger, high heels were reserved for special occasions. Weddings, graduations and Christmas parties were all valid reasons to break those the three and a half inch patent leather high-heeled pumps but you didn't often see women wearing them to work. Just a few weeks ago, I witnessed a neighbor mowing her lawn in a pair of high-heeled sandals. I have to assume she was a glutton for punishment.

Often, women feel obligated to wear heels. Even young girls insist on heels as an integral parts of their wardrobes. When we recently attended the Harry Potter book party at a local bookstore, one of my adopted neighborhood children went with us and wore a pair of high heeled basketball shoes to the event. When I attended my daughter's seventh grade open house, I was appalled at the number of girls that were walking the school hallways in strappy Paris Hilton inspired high heel sandals. I had to wonder, why a parent would put their child at such a high risk for future pain and misery at such a young age.

Reasons not to wear high-heels are numerous but frequently ignored by high-heel enthusiasts. Physical pain and injury can be unfortunate results of refusing to heed the warnings of doctors and other professionals. Lower back pain can be caused from lower back muscles overcompensating for the wearer's body being off balance.

This lack of balance also puts the wearer at risk for nasty trips and falls. Stairs become hazards to be avoided at all costs. An unseen rock on the ground can send the wearer crashing down, embarrassed and hurt.

Knees are wrenched back and forth in their sockets due to the *stiff leg* posturing caused by the shoes. This twisting has been identified as a possible cause of osteoarthritis. Even the upper back and shoulders can be affected by wearing high heels leading to headaches and referred pain.

Ankles are affected too as freedom of joint movement is restricted. One turn in the wrong direction can twist, sprain or even break a wearer's ankle. For younger women, a break to the ankle bone can be life-altering. If a growth plate is accidentally broken, further growth can be permanently stunted.

High heels were not made for comfort or ease of walking. High heels impede the wearer's ability to move around easily or quickly if necessary. In the movie Borat when actress Pamela Anderson was chased by the main character at a book signing she had to run right out of her constricting high heels to get away from him. In Romancing the Stone, Michael Douglas hacked the heels off of Kathleen Turner's pumps to facilitate a faster escape from the bad guys.

Feet are the foundation of movement. High heels cause blisters, bunions, calluses, hammertoes and ingrown toenails. Aching feet make the body hurt all over leading to fatigue and general malaise. High heels have their place but should be limited to occasional wear due to the undeniable possibility of lasting damage to the wearer's feet, back and legs.

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