Damage control

There’s no denying that stilettos are killer kicks, stylewise. Podiatrists have a different opinion on the shoes, though. Local doc Elizabeth Kurtz tells us that wearing four- to five-inch heels can result in long-term damage. “Physiologic shortening of the calf muscle and the Achilles tendon occurs when wearing such a high heel over a long period of time,” she says. “Even women who wear [them] for one evening may notice some calf tightness the next morning.” Kurtz adds that a four-inch heel puts the leg over the ankle bone where the bone is narrowed. This means that with a simple misstep, a newbie could come crashing down, resulting in damaged pride and a sprained ankle—or worse. “So [the phrase] tottering on the heels actually means something,” she says. The doc’s advice? “If one must wear heels, I would recommend keeping them 2.5 inches in height or less.” Talk about a fashion buzzkill.