Pain in the pump: Are high heels worth it?

FlipSide illustration by LAUREN OYLER/Hurricane

By Molly Page
South Charleston High School

Many females wear high heels on a daily basis to look more attractive. Shoes can say a lot about a person, and wearing heels usually says, “I can take pain.”

So, if these shoes are so uncomfortable, why wear them?

“I like to wear heels because they make me feel prettier,” said South Charleston High School sophomore Kristina Moore.

“I like to wear them so I can be taller, and they make my outfits look dressier,” said sophomore Chelsea Prouse.

Girls may wear high heels to impress men, but do guys even pay attention to what’s on girls’ feet?

A poll of 10 guys at South Charleston High School revealed mixed results. Their answers were across the board, from wearing high heels makes a girl look graceful and elegant to wearing them makes a girl look like she only cares about her body image.

“I don’t look at girls feet so, I really don’t care if they wear them, and I don’t really understand why [they do],” said South Charleston sophomore Javen O’Neal.

“I don’t like the noise high heel shoes make when a girl’s walking, so I think they’re annoying,” said freshman William Faulknier. “I pay more attention to slip-on Vans and tennis shoes.”

“I believe it gives a girl grace and elegance when she wear heels,” countered junior Shane Belcher. “It tells me she isn’t clumsy.”

But since guys may or may not pay attention to the fact that a girl wears high heels, should girls keep wearing them? What, if any, risks are involved with wearing high heels?

According to FeetforLife.org, a website maintained by London’s Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, high heels are really bad for your feet. Wearing them puts all of your body’s weight on the ball of the foot. Not only does this lead to calluses, bunions and corns, but it could even cause foot deformity.

And high heels don’t just hurt the foot - they can also cause back problems. Wearing high heels pushes your body’s center forward, so your spine bends backwards to make up for what your shoes are doing to your balance.

High heels can even harm your legs by shortening and tightening your calf muscles and Achilles tendon. If you wear heels all the time, this could cause your calf muscles to shorten permanently, which in turn could cause damage to your knees and hips because your body will adjust to this muscle tightness by lowering your foot’s arch.

Still not convinced you should break your high heel addiction? Then, at least take these steps (provided by FeetforLife) to protect yourself and your feet:

s Only wear high heels for special events. Wearing them every once in a while won’t hurt anything — well, other than your feet at the time.

s Avoid backless heels. This causes your toes to “claw” while you walk in order to keep the shoe on and that can lead to muscle strain.

s If you must wear high heels, stick with a simple one- to two-inch heel as opposed to a towering stiletto. Not only will this make your feet more comfortable while you’re wearing the shoes, but it will help your feet in the long run.

Having a good, comfortable shoe can save you a lot of pain in the next 20 to 30 years, so save the heels for a wedding or special occasion, instead of wearing them to work or school on a daily basis.