Ten Reasons to Stash Those Stilettos

Posted by Pamela S on Monday, January 30th, 2012

Image Source: Stan Grossfeld, boston.com

1. They are called stilettos for a reason. Named after the long, pointy knife, these shoes are the hired assassins of feet. They kill, or at the very least, cause you some serious pain. Wearing heels causes Metatarsalgia. This results in pain to the metatarsal region, which is the ball of the foot at the base of the toes. Morton’s neuroma causes pain and thickening between the toes. This injury to the nerve is another result of wearing high heels.
   

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2. High heels look lovely in the short term, but make your feet ugly in the long run. Bunions are a swollen bump at the base of the big toe. You may need  surgery to correct bunions, and you won’t be wearing heels for a long time. Wearing shoes that are too tight or too high causes Hammertoe. Your toe will be bent in the shape of a hammer, causing pain and affecting the way you walk.
   

   File image: painetworks.com

3. If you insist on wearing heels, stock up on bandages, blister and corn pads, and callus removers. You’ll need them. Or save all the money you would spend on designer heels and foot treatments, and show off a cool pedicure with a pair of flat sandals.
   

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4. It is romantic to wander around Paris with your significant other, wearing a flirty dress and pretty high heels, until you have to walk across the cobblestones. Make sure your travel insurance covers sprained or broken ankles.
   

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5. You are 5’8 and your guy is 5’9. Do the math. When you put on 5 inch heels, you will be 4 inches taller than him. Maybe he doesn’t mind. Maybe.
   

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6. It’s true that men like stilettos, but unless a man has a special thing for feet, he probably doesn’t notice your shoes as much as you think. According to an article published in The Telegraph, September 2010, researchers at Northumberland  University discovered that men don’t notice whether women wear high heels when they walk. Wear a low cut dress and he won’t notice your ballet flats. Just saying.
   

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7. If that last item sounded too sexist, consider this: climbing the corporate ladder is a lot easier when wearing sensible shoes. When you put on that power suit, you ruin the effect when you encase your feet in shoes that bind. Feminists didn’t fight for our rights so that we could look weak. HR professionals advise wearing a low heeled, closed toe shoe to a job interview.
   

   Image Source: Library of Congress .loc.gov/pictures

8. Have you ever been to a wedding where women take off their shoes and dance in their stocking feet? Do you take a pair of flats with you when you know you are going to have to remove your heels during the evening? Why not wear flats to start with? Ballet slippers, bejeweled sandals, and Mary Janes, are always stylish.
   

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9. High heels cause back pain, and holding your back just makes you look older.
   

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10. You can’t run away from danger in heels. Sure you can stab someone with your stilettos, but a pair of motorcycle or combat boots make you look like someone not to be messed with.
    

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If you have any foot problems or pain, contact The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine. Dr. Josef J. Geldwert, Dr. Katherine Lai, and Dr. Ryan Minara have helped thousands of people get back on their feet. Unfortunately, we cannot give diagnoses or treatment advice online. Please make an appointment to see us if you live in the NY metropolitan area or seek out a podiatrist in your area.

2 Responses to “Ten Reasons to Stash Those Stilettos”

1. Nupur says:

   February 28, 2012 at 9:31 am

   Amazing article! its really an eye-opener. and fun-read all the way. I am against wearing stilettos becoz dey cause so much pain. I can’t walk more than 5 mins in them.

   Reply
2. Cecilia says:

   May 6, 2013 at 3:57 pm

   Agree
   Stilettos have lot of risks.
   Me and some of my friends made a social campaign to inform girls about the risk of high heels.
   This article is very informative and I guess, I should share this article to my social campaign.
   Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/happyprettyfeet

   Reply