There she goes just walking down the street singing, “Doo wah ditty, ditty…damn! My feet hurt.”

If you’re the type of girl who loves wearing a pair of stilettos to complement a fashionable outfit, then you’re familiar with the hum of this tune.

There’s no doubt the big must-have this season is stiletto boots and sandals.

Flocks of Sacramento State women migrate all over campus in stiletto heels. Despite the discomfort of walking on tiptoes along uneven gravel, many still prefer fashion over comfort.

From the low-maintenance one-inch heel to the drastic six-inch heels and styles ranging from mid-calf to knee-high, the most fashionable item for your feet this season is footwear with stiletto heels.

Well guess what, ladies? Those stilettos can cause more damage to your body than scrunched up toes and corns the size of Mount Pinatubo.

According to Dr. Michael Uro, a Sacramento podiatrist, wearing high heels puts feet into an abnormal position that they aren’t meant to function in.

“Our office is right near Sac State [Cadillac Drive], so when I see college students carrying their backpacks with high-heeled shoes on, I’m thinking, ‘What are you doing? You’re only going to class.'”

A practicing foot doctor for 24 years, Uro said that calluses, bunions, corns, ingrown toenails, aching feet and even osteoarthritis are consequences from walking on high heels.High-heeled shoes throw the entire weight of the individual forward, making it difficult to maintain an upright posture. This kind of force calls for extra muscular effort to keep from falling forward.Think that heavy backpack is causing you an aching back? Quite the contrary-that extra effort to keep from toppling over on those heels is concentrated in the lower back. This generates an exaggerated arch that easily leads to back pain.

Unable to break the habit of wearing stilettos, some ladies even go to the extent of managing everyday attire around their school schedule.

Communications junior Theresa Jose said, “I don’t wear my stiletto boots on Tuesdays or Thursdays because I know there’s a possibility that I’m going to park in overflow.”

In addition, Jose commented on a switch of wardrobe that spring season calls for by saying, “They have stiletto sandals. They hurt more, but I’ll still wear them.”

And Jose is not alone on this “fashion over comfort” principle. In a recent Gallup Poll, 37 percent of women surveyed said that they would continue to wear high heels, even though they know the shoes are not comfortable.

Guys, if you think parking in overflow by Nicaragua and then scrambling to class on the opposite side of campus is an inconvenience, try making that trip on your tiptoes.

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), the average person walks approximately 4.3 miles each day. In a year, that equals an estimate of 1,570 miles. That’s a mighty long time to spend walking on arched feet.

Since feet carry the brunt of our weight, why do women still insist on wearing those oh-so-fashionable stilettos?

Self-esteem plays a big role in this high-roller field. For many, the added height is a boost of confidence in physical appearance and total aesthetics.

Uro said the correlation of high heels and self-esteem is influenced by societal things-movies, news and magazines-that show tall women or women in high-heeled shoes.

“I get 5-foot and 5-foot-3-inch women who admit they wear high-heels because they feel they’re too short. These are attractive women who don’t need them. In general, the fellows wouldn’t care if they wore those heels or not.”

Journalism senior Ron Gaffud said stiletto heels or not, he doesn’t really look at a person’s feet.

“If women feel comfortable in them, then that’s OK. For me, to comment on a person’s dress, it needs to be to the extreme, not just the shoes.”

Business sophomore Erin Mrizek said that she very rarely wears footwear with heels. An employee of The Ultimate Back Store, Mrizek is familiar with the risk women face by wearing stiletto heels.

“Customers come in with 3-to-4-inch heels on complaining of back pain. The fact that they’re walking around on heels all day doesn’t help.”

Moreover, the health side effects go further than aching feet and back pain. Shallow breathing, tight neck and shoulders and ankle pain are a few more consequences of imposing stilettos on the natural structure of feet.

Now with warm weather coming into play and thong flip-flops becoming a necessity, what are women to do? Foot soaks and pedicures won’t cover up those hammertoes.

Try gradually reducing the heel height and the amount of time you wear stilettos.

According to Pat Curry, healthAtoZ contributing writer, wearing flatter or tennis shoes for walking long distances is one of many solutions.

Choosing styles with squared-off toes and shorter, chunkier heels than stilettos is also an option for those who yield to having that additional height.

Ladies, keep in mind that shoes are the only essentials of your wardrobe that can cause health problems if they aren’t suitable.You don’t have to toss out those “to-die-for” stilettos you got from Macy’s. Just try wearing that pair of Avril Lavigne Converse tennis shoes buried away in the closet or investing in Old Navy flip-flops. Your feet will be so relieved.

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