Wearing high-heeled shoes increases the foot arch angle inducing measurable changes in the musculoskeletal system.

Abstract

The study determined the effects of females wearing high-heeled shoes on the lower extremity musculoskeletal system and somatometry. The study was carried out with 136 females between 18 and 45 years old. The first group consisted of 66 females wearing 5 cm or higher high-heeled shoes, at least 5 hours a day, three days a week, and at least one year. The second group consisted of 70 females wearing shoes with heel height less than 5 cm for at least one year. Differences in length parameters may result from the narrow and pointed toe of the high-heeled shoe. These shoes distribute the pressure on the caput ossis metatarsi I and compress the foot in this area. Differences in anthropometric measurements show that females wearing high-heeled shoes have more slender and smaller foot structure. These findings show that regular wearing of high-heeled shoes causes changes via the increased foot arch structure. These alterations result from regional, racial, gender, heel height, shoe type (shape), and shoe habits.