What do stars such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Paris Hilton, Katie Holmes, and Jennifer Aniston, all have in common? The answer is unsightly feet, as a result of improper footwear. Many women make the fashion choice to walk around in high heels on a daily basis, to the detriment of their feet. Wearing proper shoes is important, and female A-listers have learned the hard way.

Human feet simply were not made to walk in high-heeled shoes. Wearing certain heels can put the ball of the foot at almost a 90 degree angle, concentrating too much pressure on the front of the foot. Other than straining the feet and causing unsightly veins to develop (such as Jennifer Aniston has experienced), people who wear stilettos every day can also develop calluses, corns, capsulitis (painful inflammation of the joints where the toes attach to the foot), Achilles tendonitis (stretching of the muscle that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone), plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the connective tissue at the bottom of the foot), neuromas (pinched nerves), and even stress fractures.

So, what is the ideal footwear? In order to keep your foot at a natural angle, flatter shoes (but not flimsy, they must have heel support) are your best choice. When purchasing new shoes, the most important thing is to make sure that the fit is right to avoid pinching and rubbing that can cause complications. While sizing for new shoes, make sure both feet are measured because they may not be the same size. Also, a shoe should conform as much as possible to the shape of the widest part of your foot, and ideally, there should be room to wiggle your toes. Another tip is to purchase your shoes at the end of the day, when your feet tend to be the most swollen, to account for changes in foot size.

Many women feel that there is pressure to wear high heels in order to look professional in their jobs. If this is unavoidable, at least try to choose heels two inches or under, and wear other shoes until you arrive at work. Spend as much time as possible in the proper footwear so when you do wear heels, you will not experience pain and complications.

If you have any questions about your shoes or special footwear options, call Dr. Lefkowitz at 215-230-9707, or give him a visit in his Doylestown office.