platform shoes bad for feet

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Platforms
Danger ranking: 4. "They're wobbly and compromise the normal gait pattern," says Brenner, and that becomes an even bigger problem when the heel is significantly higher than the toe. And consider that high-heeled-shoe-related injuries doubled between 2002 and 2012, according to a recent study in The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery . A whopping 123,355 injuries were linked to high heels—more than 80 percent of them affected the ankle or foot, with the rest causing damage to the knees, torso, shoulders and even the head and neck.

Best for: Adding height at a crowded rooftop party

Avoid: Dancing at said party, climbing stairs; chasing after children

Doctor's note: "For a wedding or other formal occasion, consider styles from Easy Spirit, Aldo or Stella McCartney—pricey but worth it," says Brenner. Try adding padded insoles or arch cushions from the drugstore.