Stilettos with a pointed toe are the most damaging to your feet. "Your body weight is concentrated on a very small area of the thin high heel, and your forefoot gets pinched and crammed in the toe box with weight being shifted toward the ball of the foot,” Sutera explains. Both doctors agree that extreme heel heights put great stress on the feet, knees, and lower backs. Customer reviews across the web indicate that the most comfortable and supportive shoes are generally 3 inches or fewer, though studies by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) show any heel over 2 inches is capable of causing damage.