Are high heels bad for you? Well, the answer is “maybe”. In an article posted on MSNBC they quoted Dr. Brendan Brown, a podiatrist who sees about 500 women every year with problems caused by wearing heels. He says that damage can be inflicted by high heels over a period of one day or 40 years. Each person is different and the effects of wearing heels will differ on everybody. He says the reason high heel wearers suffer back pain is your body’s center of gravity is thrust forward. High heels cause the forefoot to overwhelm the joints and the toes. Osteoarthritis can also be caused by high heels because the soft tissue overcompensates when under strain. They also interviewed Doctor Casey Kerrigan, who is a Professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, USA. Dr Kerrigan’s research shows that wearing a stiletto puts 25 percent more pressure on your poor old knees and hips, each time you take a step. Surprisingly, wide heels aren’t a step up. “The fact that wide heels feel more comfortable and may have a wider forefoot, as well as a strap, you actually then trust the shoe more and therefore put more forces through the shoe,” she says. At Lamey-Wellehan, we suggest staying away extended use of high heels (specialized occasions are fine). For general wear, a dress shoe with a half inch or so heel or wedge height will still look “dressy” while not over taxing your body. Questions? Just email a note to pedorthics@lwshoes.com and one of Lamey-Wellehan’s certified pedorthists will answer it!