A few months, ago I stepped into an elevator wearing my favorite Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress paired with my customary three-inch heels and was greeted by the sweetest older woman hunched over with a cane. She politely commented on my dress and pointed to my stilettos, recalling the days when she wore high heels every day. As she slowly hobbled off the elevator she left me with one lasting comment, “Now look at me!”

Doing the math, I figured at the rate I wear heels, multiplied by the height of the heel itself, I should be crippled any day now. Panicked at the thought, I called a few doctors to find out the truth about high heels. The reports are in and there is a unanimous consensus that high heels are bad for your health. Some say they may be as bad for you as smoking.

According to Dr. Neetee Gadgil of Memorial Hermann Medical Group, wearing heels changes the dynamics of the foot and the way you walk. “Wearing high heels puts increased stress and force on your ankles, knees, hips and back, which can cause bunions, hammertoes, claw toes (toes gripping the edge of the shoe) stress fractures, ankle sprains, and the shortening of the Achilles tendon and calf muscle. Many women fail to see the effect heels have on the entire body, beyond the intermittent blisters. Would you want to be in an airplane that lands nose first? That is precisely what your toes are doing -- hitting the ground before the rest of your body,” continues Dr. Gadgil.

Another reason doctors caution against high heels is because the height of the heel causes an imbalance in the body which can often lead to a fall. Platform heels provide a wider base because the pressure is spread throughout the toes, not simply on the ball of the foot. This allows for a steadier walk and improved balance that lessen the impact on the body, but be warned, platform heels also increase the risk of sprained ankles.

In fact, heels higher than three inches put seven times the pressure on the ball of the foot and can harm bones and tendons. Even with all the risks, the American Podiatric Medical Association still reports that 39 percent of women wear high heels on a daily basis.

For years, my dad has stressed the importance of the alignment of a car to its proper operation, and now doctors are stressing the importance of the physical alignment of your body to your health. “High heels cause you to lean forward. The body responds by decreasing the forward curve of your lower back to help keep you in line. Poor alignment also may lead to muscle overuse and back pain,” according to Dr. Gadgil.

If you are like me and heels are an essential part of your corporate wardrobe, Dr. Tomiko Fukuda, Fondren Orthopedic shares tips on how to help your feet bare a smaller burden:

• Stretching – Stretch the heel cords (runner’s stretch) daily. The slope of heels causes the heel cord to get tight, increasing forefoot pressure even when wearing flats. Toes can also be stretched at the end of the day, especially if the toes seem to be drifting up (hammering). Place a finger under the ball of the foot pressing up, and another at the base of the toe pressing down.

• Padding – Adding a metatarsal pad can help offload the ball of the foot and decrease neuroma pain. It is important that there is sufficient room in the toe box to accommodate any added pad. There are also sleeve-type pads that can be placed over hammertoes.

• Shoe Fit – Too tight is clearly bad, but too loose lets the toes slide causing friction, blistering, and an increased risk of falls.

• Hiatus – Give the feet a reprieve whenever possible. The ideal shoes for offloading the forefoot and stretching the heel cord are rocker bottom shoes. Though not super stylish, they are quite comfortable for women with forefoot pain from heels. Examples of rocker bottom shoes are MBT, Sketcher Shape Ups and Avon Curve Sandals.

Dr. Fukuda also stresses that if you’re lucky enough to find a “comfortable” heel that they are not entirely bad. Just be informed of the risks and aches and pains that may result from long usage.

As with any medical concern, it is important to consult a doctor. Foot problems are harder to diagnose and treat once they become chronic. For more information about foot problems, contact Dr. Tomiko Fukuda, General Orthopedic (Ankle and Foot) at 281.633.8600 or Dr. Neetee Gadgil, Family Medicine, at 281.725.5868.