By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
A warning for women who fall in love with their "killer heels" ― they may end up putting you under the knife.
According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA), the hippest heels ― nine centimeters or more in height ― cause unwelcomed pain to wearers.
The survey showed an increasing number of women diagnosed with deformation to the big toe and other bones in their feet, which can lead to significant pain. In some cases, surgery is required.
"I have been wearing heels for more than 10 years now," said Chung Sun-ae, a 30-year-office worker.
"The higher the heels, the more pressure I feel on my feet. One day when I took off the shoes, I found my big toe bent toward the second and third ones. The smallest toe was also pushed inward," she said.
Chung visited a doctor, who advised her not to wear heels for the time being. "He told me if things got worse, I might have to undergo surgery," she said.
In the HIRA report, the number of patients suffering toe deformities jumped by 20 percent annually between 2004 and 2008, with the number of relevant surgeries performed skyrocketing by 42 percent.
In 2008, a total of 34,910 were diagnosed with painful deformities, up from 17,544 in 2004, with remedial medical treatment costing 13.6 billion won.
Some 4,807 women underwent corrective operations.
Most of the patients were in their 40s, as their younger days of wearing heels began taking its toll; however, the age bracket is getting lower.
"When you are wearing high heels, the pressure on the front of the sole is immense. You don't get to walk properly and it is natural that the bones become deformed according to the given stress and pressure," said Dr. Chang Eui-chan of the Chung-Ang University Medical Center.
"It is a vicious circle because once the structure of the bone is deformed, walking will never be the same again, and the changes could eventually lead to rheumatoid arthritis or other problems," he added.
He advised women to wear shoes with a heel no higher than one inch. "If you insist on wearing spiky heels, then try to rub your feet gently and massage them regularly," he said.