The effect of high-heeled footwear on the induction of selected musculoskeletal conditions and potential beneficial uses in prophylaxis and management

Footwear is, first and foremost, an essential wardrobe component, without which it is difficult to imagine an ordinary working day. High-heeled shoes are mainly worn for aesthetic reasons, and to enhance the slenderness of the female body. Badly fitting footwear can lead to the development of several medical conditions affecting function of the foot as well as the wider musculoskeletal system. Foot deformations correlate highly with the type of footwear being worn. The most commonly occurring foot disorders caused by wearing high heels are: bunions, hammer toe, mallet toe, claw toe, and flat feet. These types of shoes can also cause injuries such as sprains, dislocations and fractures around the ankle joint and in the foot itself. High-heeled footwear may have an effect not only on the foot, but also on the whole limb, including the spine and pelvis, as destructive changes around the foot affect the entire biokinematic chain, and being the first component of this chain they impede movement and negatively impact the function of other joints. Over time, inappropriate function of the foot joints results in dysfunction of other joints located higher, disrupting correct body posture. The aim of this work is to draw the readers’ attention to the effects of wearing high-heeled footwear, both the negative and positive, though the latter are extremely rare.