Women typically wear high heels not for comfort, but to complement an outfit. Few people realize that high-heel shoes can aggravate back pain. High heels tend to alter the balance of a person’s body; when a woman wears them, a new equilibrium occurs. Wearing these high-heel shoes for any amount of time increases the normal forward curve of the back, causing the pelvis to tip forward. This alters the pelvis and spine’s ability to maintain a center of gravity. The following are tips for choosing high heels that offer more comfort to your body than stress:

• Try to wear a shorter heel, for example, a two-inch heel instead of a four-inch heel.
• Limit your use of high heels to times when you won’t be on your feet for extended periods of time.
• If you have designer shoes, go to a podiatrist to have them custom fit to your feet because they have the ability to stretch the toe area to better accommodate your feet.
• Wear a larger sizethan usual and insert heel cups into the backs for a better or more comfortable fit.
• Wear open-toed shoes because they cause less discomfort in your toes and partially open toes have become more acceptable in work environments.
• Remember to treat your feet kindly, because unlike fashionable shoes, they need to last you a lifetime!

Source: The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society