Reserve Wearing High Heels for Special Occasions: MD Podiatrist

High heels are the No. 1 culprit of foot pain for women, according to an American Podiatric Medical Association survey. Nearly half of all women wear heels, and 71 percent of heel-wearers say those shoes hurt their feet, the APMA reports. “With many types of heels, like very high stilettos, foot pain is hard to avoid,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. “But it is possible for women to find a happy mid-point between great looks and great pain.”

Even if you’re like the average American woman and own nine pairs of high heels, don’t wear them every day. Daily heel-wearing can cause the Achilles tendon to shorten, increasing your risk of an injury while doing activities in flat shoes, including exercise. “Treat heels like dessert,” Dr. Michaels says. “Don’t wear them all the time, just on special occasions.”