Fierce, Sexy, Thin -- words that some women commonly hear when wearing high heel shoes. Though stiletto shoes may be a popular footwear choice for some women, few are aware of the long-term physical strain they can cause the body.
Three hundred thousand artificial knee replacement surgeries are performed annually because of osteoarthritis. According to Dr. D. Casey Kerrigan, Chair of University of Virginia’s Department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, it can take years for problems to arise.
“It takes a long time to feel the effects of knee osteoarthritis, in which joint cartilage and surrounding bone progressively degrade from wear and tear,” said Kerrigan.
Sally Young, a 73-year retired teacher has osteoarthritis because of wearing high heels.
“I loved wearing heels almost everyday when I was young, and now I am paying the cost,” she said.
Despite the negative effects of wearing stilettos daily, Young said she still enjoys a kitten heel every now and then.
Osteoarthritis isn’t the only effect from high heels; there are corns, calluses, hammertoes, chronic knee pain, sprained ankles and back problems. Back pain is caused because the body’s centre of gravity is thrust forward.
Some people believe that a wider heel relieves more of the stress placed on the body than more narrow heels. A study was conducted in 2001 by a team of Harvard researchers who discovered that wide heels increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis in the knee as much as, or more than, stilettos.
"Wide-heeled shoes give you the perception of more stability when you're standing, and they feel comfortable, so women wear them all day long," Kerrigan said. "They are better for your feet than stiletto heels, but just as bad for your knees."
Both types of shoes increases knee joint pressure—26 percent more for wide-heeled shoes and 22 percent for narrow-heeled shoes. This kind of repetitive stress to the knee elevates the risk for osteoarthritis, according to physicians.
Terja Gibson, a junior psychology major says she enjoys wearing stilettos because she feels more confident and they make her legs look longer.
“I know they can’t be that good for me because I can’t wear them all day, and my feet and knee always begin to hurt,” Gibson said.
Eighty percent of the 42 million Americans suffering from arthritis have osteoarthritis. To avoid health problems physicians suggest wearing flats or ½ inch heels.
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