Positive effects
The case for wearing high heels is based almost exclusively on aesthetic reasons, including that they:
• change the angle of the foot with respect to the lower leg, which accentuates the appearance of calves;
• change the wearer's posture, requiring a more upright carriage and altering the gait in what is considered a seductive fashion;
• make the wearer appear taller;
• make the legs appear longer;
• make the foot appear smaller;
• make the toes appear shorter;
• make the arches of the feet higher and better defined;
• according to a single line of research, they may improve the muscle tone of some women's pelvic floor, thus possibly reducing female incontinence, although these results have been disputed.
• offer practical benefits for people of short stature in terms of improving access and using items, e.g. sitting upright with feet on floor instead of suspended, reaching items on shelves, etc.