Women Increasingly Injured by Wearing High Heels

High-heeled shoes may be a staple for many women, but the results of a recent study suggest that injuries resulting from the use of this footwear may be on the rise. The study, published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Injuries, examined data on 123,355 high-heel—related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments from 2002 to 2012. The research team found that the rate of injury nearly doubled between 2002 and 2012, with nearly 19,000 injuries related to high-heel use occurring in 2011 alone.

Patients aged 20 to 29 years were the most likely to experience an injury, followed by those aged 30 to 39 years. In addition, over 80% of the injuries were to the ankle or foot, whereas less than 20% involved the knee, trunk, shoulder, or head and neck.

“Although high-heeled shoes might be stylish, from a health standpoint, it would be worthwhile for those interested in wearing high-heeled shoes to understand the risks and the potential harm that precarious activities in high-heeled shoes can cause,” said lead investigator Gerald McGwin, PhD, in a press release.

The study authors encouraged patients to select the appropriate footwear for a given occasion and to remain cognizant of how frequently and for how long they wear high heels. Previous research has demonstrated that, in addition to causing discomfort, walking in high-heels significantly reduces ankle muscle movement, step length, total range of movement, and balance control.