The danger of high heels, flip-flops and ballet shoes

It pains me to point this out, but I feel llike I'm performing a service: the Post has an article exposing the dangers to women about wearing both high heels...and flip-flops.

Naturally, I'm happy to point out the flip-flop thing.  As the article says: "Women often think they're doing their feet a favor when they ditch the heels and put on flip-flops or ballet flats because there's no heel, no pointed toe, no reason to worry. Right?

Not so, say podiatrists, who treat foot problems often exacerbated by improper footwear. "The thing that flip-flops do best is carry patients into my office," said Stephen Pribut, a D.C. podiatrist. The repeated process of lifting your heel away from the shoe surface (creating that characteristic flip-flop sound) creates tension in the foot, said Pribut, which can worsen such painful inflammatory conditions as plantar fasciitis.

Erika Schwartz, a podiatrist in private practice in the District and Chevy Chase, advised that ballet flats and flip-flops "really shouldn't be worn for any kind of excessive walking [because there's] really nothing giving you support underneath."

I am sad about the podiatrical scoop on high-heels.  Not that I like the pointed-toed heels (I don't), but I do appreciate the appearance-enhancing effect of heels in general.  Unfortunately, if you wear heels more than 3 hours per day, you will really fuck up your feet, tendons, knees and back.  And the pointy-toed ones are the worst culprits, ladies.  

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