Some women fight over beautiful pairs of Manolo Blahniks and Jimmy Choos simply because they look sexy on them. Other women ignore common sense and buy a very expensive pair of stilettos reserved for that special occasion. If you are like these women who love wearing high heels, then you already know that looking sexy has a painful price. In fact, orthopedic experts have always warned women not to wear high heels for long periods and constantly.

Before you buy a pair of high heeled shoes, you should know the health risks associated with them. In its July 2010 edition, the Journal of Experimental Biology published the results of an experiment that tested the connection between the size of women’s calf muscles and the wearing of high heels. Looking through MRI scans of women’s calf muscles, Marco Narici from Manchester Metropolitan University along with his colleagues discovered that women who wore two-inch heels for two years or more had muscle fibers in their calves that are 13% shorter than those of women who frequently wore flat shoes.

Not only that, the researchers also discovered that the Achilles tendons below the calf of high heel wearers have thickened and stiffened to compensate for the weakened muscle fibers in the calf. As a result, the tendon deformation causes pain and contributes to walking difficulties when the women wear flat footwear or walk barefoot. However, the muscle shrinkage and tendon thickening also makes wearing high heels comfortable for those women.
Aside from deformed muscles and tendons in the lower legs, women who wear high heels for long hours every day also develop bunions on their feet and hammertoes that permanently curls up the toes. Yet, women continue to wear high-heeled shoes because they’re a requirement for office attire, plus they’re the kind of footwear women are expected to wear in social functions. If that is the case with you, then you should learn the following tips in choosing the right kind of heels for you’re the sake of your feet.

1. Wear shoes with heels no higher than two inches for everyday footwear.

2. Make sure the heels have a platform shape rather than a stiletto.

3. If you’re going to buy a closed shoe, then put a centimeter of space between the tip of your big toe and the tip of your shoe. You must be able to wiggle your toes without your feet feeling pinched on both sides.

4. Find the best fit for your feet. You will know the best fit when you feel comfortable wearing your shoes without pressure or pain.

5. Choose shoes with arch support. If the pair you like doesn’t have arch support, then buy inserts with arch supports and made of soft gel to soothe your feet.

6. Straps that fit around your ankles add support and keep your feet steady while walking in high heels.

7. Break in your shoes for at least two weeks before actually using them, such as during a party or a special occasion.

8. If you wanted heels higher than a couple inches, then choose platform shoes with additional support under the arch and the toes to reduce the angle and pressure to the balls of the feet.

9. If you’re going to buy high heels, then you should also buy flat-heeled shoes with the same color. After all, your shoes should match your fashionable clothes.

10. Lastly, take a holiday from wearing high heels as often as you can. Wear the matching flat heels during breaks or late afternoons when your feet swell a bit.

Through these ten tips, lovers of high heels can enjoy wearing them with less worry. Bunions and corns may develop in some feet, but those are better than letting your leg muscles and feet become deformed. Remember to walk with a glide rather than a stomp by shifting your weight from the heels to the balls of your feet and balancing your body from one foot to the other. Don’t be afraid to swing your hips and thighs in rhythm with gliding in high heels.