More than 43 million Americans, or roughly one out of every six people, have problems with their feet, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Many of these problems are caused or exacerbated by poor footwear choices. Women who wear high heels to work all week, for example, wind up with shortened calf muscles and can alter the bone structure in the foot, putting them at greater risk for everything from bunions to pulled tendons. And with the average height of a high-heeled shoe climbing to five inches from three inches, women increase their risk of injury every time they strap on their favorite designer shoes.
If you’re having a hard time finding shoes that are cute AND comfortable, you’re not alone. A survey from the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society found that 50 percent of women were dissatisfied with their ability to find dress shoes that were both fashionable and comfortable, despite the fact that 60 percent of women claim to pay between $50 to $200 for a pair of shoes.
Footwear Affects The Whole Body
The shoes we choose affect more than just our feet. According to CNN, studies have shown that prolonged high-heel wearing can contribute to joint degeneration and knee osteoarthritis, which may be why this disease is twice as common in women as it is in men. Heels throw the entire body’s alignment off, changing the center of balance and leading to increased curvature in the back,which can cause the discs in the spine to break down and lead to muscle spasms and pain throughout the body. Some experts think that it can even lead to chronic headaches or migraines.