Ladies your shoes are cute, but are they really worth the achy feet? Our shoes reflect our personal style, but more often than not, they aren’t good for your feet, legs and back. While shoes may show off your unique style, they can be the root cause of common discomfort in your feet, legs and back. Here are three types of shoes that could be causing you pain.

1. High Heels:

Ladies we know you love your pumps and how they make you feel, but the reality is that high heels have been found to have lasting negative effects on your feet and legs. Your favorite stilettos can cause shin splints, hair-line fractures, and even a sprained ankle. There are safer alternatives such as wearing lower 3/4 chunky heel or wearing a commuter shoe (a pair of sneakers or tennis shoes).

2. Flip Flops:

Flip flops are the go to shoe for comfort seekers but the truth is wearing flip flops can tear and inflame the plantar fascia, which is an important tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. If you just have to wear flip flops, buy a pair that are fitted and provide ample arch support to contour to the shape of your foot.

3. Flat shoes:

We all want to embody the effortless style of Audrey Hepburn’s ballet flats, but like high heels, flats can have negative effects on your feet. Flats are like their description; they have no arch support and have less cushioning than normal shoes. Wearing flats often can lead to the ligaments and tendons in your feet to overstretch and collapse, which is the cause of your achy feet.

The next time you buy shoes, keep this in mind: always buy shoes that provide ample support. You don’t have to substitute style, you can take simple steps like buying insoles for your flats and heels to give you the support those shoes lack.