Pros Vs. Cons of Increasing Height With Shoes

Sarah Jessica Parker on the set of "Sex and the City" wearing her trademark stilettos.

In movies and on TV, New York socialites traipse the city daily in high-fashion designer shoes from morning to night. But while wearing high-heeled shoes are great for adding height and sex appeal, it may come at a high cost to your body.

Legs Look Hotter in Heels

High heels have a very sexy effect on a woman's leg.

There is no denying that a pair of high heels does beautiful things to a woman's legs. Heels put you up on your toes which makes your calf muscles contract, tilts your pelvis, pushes out your rear and elevates your chest. Wearing a heel also adds inches to the length of your leg -- up to five or six inches, depending on how brave and coordinated you are feeling.

Heels are a Fashion Staple

Fashion designers spend ample time and money making sure models are in heels that complement their designs.

It'll be a "cold day" before designers send models down the runway in flat shoes. Experts reveal that heels physically change the way a woman moves in her body. Everything a heel does to a woman's shape and the outfit she's wearing emphasizes femininity. Heels cause you to take shorter strides and walk more quickly, all while creating more movement in your hips. Heels lift your bottom a bit higher so your jeans look better; and if you're wearing a short skirt, your legs will appear to go on for miles. Fashion trends come and go, but high heels never do. Anything that does this much to enhance a woman's attributes is going to remain a girl's friend for life -- but at a price.

Heels Are Easy on the Eyes but Hard on the Feet

An X-ray gives a behind the scenes look at foot bones in a high-heel position.

The same reason that heels make your figure look so svelte is what also can have damaging effects on your body. A bunion is a bony growth on the joint at the base of the big toe. Orthopaedic surgeons say that bunions can develop from the tight fit of most heels, especially the pointy-toe style that has been popular in recent years. Hammertoes are another common affliction from wearing heels that "smoosh" all the toes together in a tiny toe box. Eventually the bones on the second, third and fourth toes have a difficult time straightening out.

More Height Makes You More Vulnerable to Injury

Lady Gaga risks life and limb balancing on unusually high platform shoes.

Now that platform heels are in style, high heels are reaching new heights. The platform style not only adds height at the heel, but at the ball of the foot as well. But walking around at heights your body is not accustomed to also sets you up for a dangerous fall. Add alcohol to the equation and your risk factor is even higher for an ankle injury. A solution is to wear your high-high heels out for an evening, but pack a pair of flat shoes for the end of the night -- a good balance to ensure a safe, comfortable evening.

References

• nydailynews.com: Sarah Jessica Parker- Wearing high heels for years mangled my feet
• Redbook.com: Surprising Sex-planations: The Science Behind Sex
• Independent.co.uk: Heel appeal! They really do make women look good
• WashingtonPost.com: On Your Feet -- High Heels' Effects on the Body
• TheSun.co.uk: How booze + big heels = broken ankle