While the binding of feet of chinese women seem absurd to us today women continue to do damage to their feet in the name of beauty. Wearing high heels, for example, shortens the muscles of the lower leg and can cause the back to arch unnaturally. This can lead to serious back problems and nerve damage. When ultra-high platform shoes were popular in japan, police shoes slowed the response time of drivers, especially when they had to brake in an emergncy.