High price for sexy style

By KATHERINE HOBY

New Zealand chiropractors applaud the warnings that a Brazilian shoemaker now issues on the company's packaging detailing the health hazards of wearing high heels.

Via Uno, which distributes and sells shoes worldwide, including in New Zealand, offers a warning on the shoebox lid of its footwear.

"Any piece of footwear higher than 4cm may be harmful to one's bone structure and back and should, therefore, be worn moderately," it reads.

And the Via Uno website confirms the high heel's reputation as sexy but impractical.

"In the daily office routine, if you wear stiletto heels and pointed-toed shoes, you can expect to excel with seduction, but, on the other hand, you will definitely lack a smiley face and that good mood to get down to work.

"Add some comfort to your day by choosing thicker (but by no means less fashionable) heels."

The shoebox lid warning also cautions against shoes that are too loose, because they can cause blisters. Pointed-toe or tight shoes may lead to bunions, exfoliation and circulation problems.

People who wear high heels should also be careful when walking on wet and slippery surfaces.

These facts are backed up by the American Podiatric Medical Association, which lists similar problems as effects of wearing high heels and other uncomfortable shoes.

Rather ironically for shoes which aim to lengthen legs, some high heels have been known to cause shortened calf muscles after prolonged use.

Over time, the increased pressure on knees can lead to osteoarthritis.

Herald fashion and beauty editor Fiona Hawtin admits to wearing high heels - even when her feet screamed "no".

"We've always known heels are no good but that didn't stop me spending a winter in heels. I kept wearing them and wearing them. I'm a slow learner," she says.

Although she now wears flat shoes, the next time stiletto heels are in fashion she will wear them again.

"I will be wearing them again. I'll forget what they did to me last time. You have to suffer for beauty."

She has learned one lesson - do not wear them to work.

"When you might have to do a lot of walking, you could be agony by the end of the day."

But Hawtin says people who like high heels often find it hard to lower themselves to wearing flat shoes.

"It becomes difficult to come down off them, in every way. I love shoes, they're addictive - and incredibly sexy."

Every day Dr Nick Laurie, of City Chiropractic in Auckland, sees the effect of long-term use of high-heels.

"It's about the spine, the calf muscles, the knees, the feet themselves and most especially the lower back," he says.

"If you wear high heels you should be leaning forward at 45 degrees to compensate for the heel, which is impossible, of course. You have to compensate somewhere and the poor old lower back is it."

He describes this summer's trend for wearing high heels, from stilettos to wedge heels, as "a fashion trend that has become accepted and a really stupid idea in reality".

Dr Laurie had never heard of a warning accompanying shoe purchases, but thought it was a great idea.

"As long as you know the facts then the choice is yours."

Dr Garry Stewart, of the Parnell Chiropractic Centre, says women will develop poor posture and suffer back problems after years of regularly wearing heels of 4cm-plus.

"And the higher the heel the more you have to compensate."

He agrees that women look glamorous and attractive in sexy, leg-lengthening high heels, but says heels should be for evenings and occasions.

"You shouldn't be doing it every day. We see the fallout from that years later. As with everything, moderation is best."

The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists in England devotes a section of its website to the "perils" of high heels.

"When you wear high-heeled shoes, your centre of mass is thrown forward. This means that your spine has to bend backwards to keep the centre of mass between the feet. This will cause the back to function in a bad way."

It sums up by warning that high-heeled shoes can cause or contribute to skin conditions and deformity of the foot, increased pressure on the ball of the foot, tight calf muscles and altered posture.

"You would not consider running a marathon in this type of shoe, so why walk long distances in them on a daily basis?"

John Perillo, the managing director of Perillo Shoes, which includes the popular Andrea Biani make, has heard nothing about any research into the potential risks of wearing high heels. He is not considering issuing warnings with his footwear.

"We should all wear shoes from gumboots to sexy cocktail shoes for their purpose and therefore not wear any one thing all day every day," he says.

"You have to be sensible, but for goodness' sake, I'm wearing more than 4cm on my boot heels right now. If it was four inches we were discussing that might be something to talk about."

Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/health