Ask The Experts
I struggle in walking in high heel shoes. My leg feels like it is going to give in. What can I do to prevent it?
Thank you for contacting IPFH. We do not diagnose or make recommendations for treating foot conditions. What we do know is that research suggests an association between high heel shoes and foot pain and specific foot conditions. Two recent studies, while not establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship between high heel shoes and foot conditions, did show an increase in injuries related to high heel shoes, and an association between constrictive footwear and increased frequency of hallux valgus (bunions) later in life. You can see the abstracts for the studies at these links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25977152; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26834078. Foot specialists do recommend strategies for minimizing pain and adverse consequences from wearing high heels, including limiting the time you spend wearing the shoes, and not wearing heels that are too high. The American Orthpaedic Foot and Ankle Society has some helpful recommendations at this link: https://www.aofas.org/footcaremd/how-to/footwear/Pages/Smart-Tips-for-Wearing-High-Heels.aspx. There is also a very informative article about high heels that was published in Lower Extremity Review magazine in which IPFH's Executive Director Bob Thompson is quoted. You can find this article here: http://lermagazine.com/cover_story/high-heels-elevating-the-discussion.
Last, and most importantly, for your specific situation, we would recommend that you consult your physician or foot health professional to get some suggestions. Being familiar with your medical background and physical condition, he or she likely can make recommendations that will be helpful. We wish you the best of foot health.