Health

Are your shoes killing you?

Victoria Beckham complains of 'granny feet'

We all love a killer pair of shoes … but are your shoes murdering your feet?

Posh Spice totters on sky-high heels, beset by painful bunions and bemoaning her “granny feet”. Sarah Jessica Parker tore tendons in her foot after a sprint in her trademark stilettos. But stilettos shouldn’t cop all the blame — wedges, platforms, thongs and even ballet flats can leave you with unhappy feet.

Alannah Andrews, executive officer of the Australian Podiatry Association (Vic.), loves a sexy stiletto as much as the next gal, but she advises wearing them in moderation.

“Sure, go and buy your good shoes, but wear them on occasion — don’t wear them all the time. An occasional wear won’t cause a problem — constant wear does,” she explains. “Every bit of footwear you have in the cupboard is fine for a purpose, but thongs weren’t ever designed for the workplace, and 12cm stilettos weren’t designed to go walking in.

“Try to wear a variety of shoes every week. You might be wearing a really bad pair today, but if you wear a sensible pair tomorrow, your body is going to thank you for that.”

So just what dangers lurk in that fashionable pair of shoes?

Visit the ninemsn Health website for diet and wellness tips and advice.

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