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Injuries from High Heels on the Rise

Summary: U.S. emergency rooms treated 123,355 high heel related injuries between 2002 and 2012.
Air Date: 6/19/15
Duration: 10
Host: Leigh Vinocur, MD
Guest Bio: Gerald McGwin, MS, PhD
mcgwinDr. Gerald McGwin is a Professor and Vice Chairman in the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

He also holds appointments in the Departments of Surgery and Ophthalmology at the UAB School of Medicine. Dr. McGwin obtained his B.S. degree from the University of Vermont and his M.S. degree from Harvard University.

He is an associate editor for the American Journal of Epidemiology, the preeminent journal in that field. Dr. McGwin has a lengthy and distinguished scientific reputation as a researcher having authored or co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts, with an emphasis on injury and ophthalmic epidemiology.

Dr. McGwin currently serves as the Associate Director for the Center of Injury Sciences at UAB and the Associate Director for the Clinical Research Unit in the Department of Ophthalmology. He is also the transportation domain director for the CDC-funded Injury Control Research Center at UAB.

Dr. McGwin is also director of the UAB Center for Clinical and Translations Science (CCTS) doctoral program and co-leader of the CCTS' Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design component.
Injuries from High Heels on the Rise
When you're dressing up for date night, or a fun night out with some friends, you might reach for that go-to pair of high heels to dress up your look.

Even though it's fashionable, you might be putting yourself at an increased risk for an injury.

In fact, according to a new study, U.S. emergency rooms treated 123,3555 high heel related injuries between 2002-2012. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Injuries reports that more than 80 percent of the high-heel injuries were to the ankle or foot. Slightly less than 20 percent involved the knee, trunk, shoulder, or head and neck.

What kinds of injuries occur from wearing high-heels?

The most common types of injuries that come from wearing high heels are sprains and strains in your ankle and foot. You may also have some discomfort, inhibited movement in your ankle and/or foot, and increased risk of falling due to loss of balance.

How can you wear high-heels without getting an injury?

Gerald McGwin, MS, PhD, shares why high heel injuries are on the rise and how women can protect themselves from getting hurt while wearing high heels.