I constantly wear high heels, but my mom tells me that they're bad for my back. Is this true?

Fashionable today, pain tomorrow...Who doesn't like a beautiful pair of high heels? Your legs look longer, you feel taller, and your outfit looks better. Face it, we women love wearing high heels but this comes at a price. Foot pain, knee pain and low back pain are common issues facing regular high heel wearers.

When you slip your feet into a pair of high heels, you immediately change your center of balance and general ease of walking. A high heel shoe puts your foot in a plantar-flexed (foot pointed downward) position, placing an increased amount of pressure on your forefoot. This causes you to adjust the rest of your body to maintain your balance: The lower part of your body leans forward and to compensate for that, the upper part of your body must lean back to keep you balanced.

This is not your body's normal standing position and the muscles in your back must work overtime to counteract this. Neck, mid back and lower back pain is quite common in regular high heel wearers.

Despite some of the medical reasons not to wear high heels, most women will not part with them. Given that, here are a few recommendations to help prevent the common spine and foot injuries associated with wearing your beloved high heels:

• It is best to mix flats and low pumps into your daily wardrobe. Save your high heels for special occasions.

• Wear flats for walking distances. You can bring your heels to change into once you get where you're going.

• Take smaller steps in high heels. Put your heel down first and try to glide to minimize damage to your feet.

• Try to buy short, chunky heels with plenty of room for your toes. Lower heels usually give you more stability, better shock absorption, and greater comfort.

• Avoid wearing backless heels for any length of time because they strain your muscles. A strap or laces over the instep will also keep your feet from sliding forward.