Did you know that wearing high heels for extended periods of time can lead to leg and back pain?

Wearing high heels shifts pressure from the heel of the foot to the ball of the foot, causing the individual to compensate by bending the lower back.  This can cause sciatica, also known as pinched nerves, a back condition that may cause pain all the way down to the feet.

In addition to back problems, wearing high heels can damage the Achilles tendon.  Long hours in heels causes the tendon to remain in a "shortened" state, so that stretching it out again becomes painful. Some ladies find that wearing regular, flat shoes is painful after lengthy time in high heels.  That's because the Achilles tendon is no longer used to being in the stretched out position that it's in when the foot lays flat on the ground.

High heels can also cause bunions and add stress to the ankles and knees, leading to pain.

The best way to treat leg and back pain from high heels is to reduce the amount of time you wear heels. You can also wear shorter height heels to reduce the amount of strain on your body. If you are already experiencing leg and back pain, check with your doctor to see which ankle braces, back braces and knee braces can help alleviate high heel pain.