Fabulous high heels are a fashionable lady’s wardrobe staple. High heels finish your whole look and make or break your entire appearance. And as fashion icon Victoria Beckham said, "they make you feel so much more confident."

But, do you know that wearing fab heels very often has a detrimental effect on your feet?

What high heels do to your feet

High heels throw your weight onto the balls of your feet. That may lead to calluses, corns, bunions and even deformity. High heels also throw the body’s center of mass forwards. To make up for this, the spine leans backwards, resulting in back problems.

Today’s sexy heels have become slimmer and slimmer. And this creates a problem. It causes the ankle to become shaky and this may cause ankle sprains.

If you have been wearing high heels regularly for nearly half a year, better get your legs checked. Wearing high heels for this long can cause the calf muscles to shorten and tighten. Your body will make up for the tightness by lowering the arch of the foot, or worse affect the knee, hip or even the back.

What you can do?

If you can, save your high heels for more formal occasions. If you own backless high-heel shoes, save them for especially glamorous parties. These kinds of shoes make your toes claw as you walk, straining your already stressed muscles.

If you do wear high heels all the time, you must compensate for the tightening and shortening your calf muscles go through by doing some stretching. Do this by:

– Standing facing a wall with your feet a foot apart.

– Keep your knees slightly bent.

– Stretch one leg out behind you, keeping your feet flat on the ground.

– Lean towards the wall. You should feel your calf and heel muscles stretching.

– Hold and then return to a standing position.

– Do five sets with each leg.

This exercise also keeps your feet’s proper range of movement and helps keeps them supple.

If you really must wear heels, vary your heel heights. Go for low heels one day, and higher heels the next. Also vary your shoe type. Opt for shoes that have straps over the instep to keep your foot from sliding forward.

If you are required to wear heels at work or are just so used to wearing heels, keep the height at about 4 cm.

Lastly, visit your chiropodist or podiatrist to check for problems.